Why OIG Did This Review. Opioid-related overdose deaths remain near all-time highs. In 2022, there were an estimated 83,827 opioid-related overdose deaths in the United States. Most of these deaths involved synthetic opioids, such as illicit fentanyl. As such, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) continues to monitor access to treatment for opioid use disorder and the opioid overdose-reversal drug naloxone - both of which can save lives. This data brief is a part of a series, released annually by OIG since 2017, that monitors indicators of the opioid epidemic in Medicare. It provides the most updated information on the number of enrollees experiencing opioid overdoses and the number receiving medication for opioid use disorder and overdose-reversal medications. It also monitors the use of prescription opioids and questionable prescribing in Part D.
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