The opioid crisis has reached epidemic proportions, affecting millions of individuals and families across the globe. In the United States, the opioid epidemic has been declared a public health emergency, resulting in more than 79,358 deaths alone in 2023, and opioid-related mortality is continually rising. Many overdosed patients are found alone and unconscious, unable to use existing antidote sprays and injectors solutions.
According to the Joint Economic Committee, the economic burden of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and fatal overdoses had already totaled to $1.5 trillion in 2020 - up 37% from 2017, last measured by the CDC. As the epidemic has only worsened significantly over time, we can only expect this number to be higher.
a Call for action
Progression of dependency
Widespread opioid prescription
37.5 prescriptions dispensed per 100 persons in 2023
Post-surgical pains, cancer pain management, traumatic injuries, dental procedures, etc.
High addition potential
11% of those prescribed opioids develop an addition
Addiction develops due to stimulation of brain’s reward pathway and tolerance build
Threat of fatal overdose
~80,000 opioid- involved overdose deaths in 2023
Overdoses often occur fast and alone, rendering current solutions, like Narcan, ineffective
While opioids are effective for pain management, they also bind to receptors in the brainstem that control respiration, leading to opioid-induced respiratory depression, the primary cause of fatal overdoses. Despite the widely available antidote, naloxone, the number of opioid-related overdose deaths remains unacceptably high.
Current state of the opioid crisis
Increase in Opioid Use Disorder
From 2017 to 2023, the number of Americans living with OUD increased by 2.7 times to 5.7 million
Inability to Use Existing Antidote Options or Reach First Responders
69% of overdose deaths occurred among people using drugs while alone
High Treatment Costs
Direct hospital costs of opioid overdoses are nearly $11 billion nationwide
Opioid overdose occurs
With A2D2
Without A2D2
Individual is alone and incapacitated
Wearable detects an overdose
$18,000 in treatment costs, 6 days in the hospital
$1,700 in treatment costs, 1-2 days in the hospital
Closed-loop system activates, administering naloxone automatically
EMS is contacted simultaneously
Within 3-5 mins without oxygen, brain damage starts to occur, possibly leading to death
Normal breathing is restored
Overdosed individual is found and EMS is contacted
Patient receives intensive treatment at the hospital
Patient receives further treatment at the hospital
EMS arrives and transports the patient to the hospital
EMS arrives and administers naloxone