Opioids

Last updated on August 5th, 2025 at 09:29 am

In 2017, the US Department of Health and Human Services declared the opioid crisis a national public health emergency. Opioids are drugs that can be natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic. The most common opioids are oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, fentanyl, tramadol, and heroine. Opioid misuse occurs everywhere; it is not isolated to just urban areas, but exists also in rural areas.

Since the 1990’s, opioid misuse and overdose deaths have continually increased. There have been three major waves of opioid overdose deaths in America: the 1990’s marked a rise in prescription opioid overdose deaths, 2010 marked a rise in heroin overdose deaths, and 2013 marked a rise in synthetic opioid overdose deaths (CDC source). The National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) details the drug overdose deaths in the US per year: in 2017 there were ~70,699 overdose deaths, in 2018 there were ~67,850 overdose deaths, in 2019 there were 71,130 overdose deaths, and in 2020 there were 92,183 overdose deaths. 2018 was the first and only year there was a decrease in overdose deaths.

Research shows a correlation between COVID-19 and the raise in overdose deaths from the end of 2019 to present day. The COVID-19 pandemic caused people to live in isolation without access or options for treatment and resources.

In addition, the #FarmTownStrong campaign reveals that the opioid crisis has struck farm and ranch families harder than the rest of rural America. In 2017, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union sponsored a Morning Consult Survey that revealed the following:

• 3 in 4 farmers say it would be easy for someone in their community to access a large amount of prescription opioids and painkillers without a prescription
• Only 1 in 3 rural adults say it would be easy to access treatment for addiction to prescription drugs or heroin in their local community
• Only 2 in 5 are confident they could seek care that is either effective, covered by insurance, convenient or affordable

If you or a loved one are living with a substance use disorder, consider checking out FindTreatment.gov or calling 1-800-HELP to find a substance use treatment center near you or to get more information.

---

Opioids Resources

AgriSafe Course

• Prevention of Opioid Misuse

Fact Sheets and Infographics

ID	Title	Summary	Link
9848	ACOEM Practice Guidelines: Opioids and Safety-Sensitive Work	ACOEM has updated the treatment guidelines concerning opioids. This report highlights the safety-sensitive work recommendation that has been developed.	View
9849	ACOEM Practice Guidelines: Opioids for Treatment of Acute, Subacute, Chronic, and Postoperative Pain	The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine’s guidelines for treatment of acute, subacute, chronic, and postoperative pain with opioids.	View
10350	Alcohol Use in Agriculture	episode of Talking Total Farmer Health	View
9843	Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale	The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) is an 11-item scale designed to be administered by a clinician.	View
9845	Nonopioid Treatments for Chronic Pain	Guidelines produced by the CDC on the usage of non-opioid treatments for chronic pain.	View
9842	Opioid Overdoses Treated in Emergency Departments	A CDC informational resource on opioid overdoses treated in emergency departments.	View
9846	Opioids for Acute Pain: What You Need to Know	Guidelines produced by the CDC regarding the usage of opioids to treat acute pain.	View
9847	Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PMDPs)	Improving the way opioids are prescribed will ensure patients have access to safer, more effective chronic pain treatment while reducing opioid misuse, abuse, and overdose.	View
9844	Quick Reference for Healthcare Providers: Opioid Prescribing Guidelines	Guidelines produced by the CDC on the usage of opioids to treat chronic pain.	View
9840	Talking to Farmers About Pain Management and Opioid Use	A guide for rural health and safety professionals on talking to farmers about pain management and opioid use.	View
9875	Talking to Farmers About Their Pain Resource Guide	A resource guide created specifically for talking about pain with farmers.	View
23581	Why You Should Keep Naloxone on the Farm	episode of Talking Total Farmer Health	View

Webinars

Webinar Title	Summary	Link

Websites

• Opioid Misuse and Addiction
• Opioid Misuse in Rural America

Page updated: July 2021