Why It Matters: Opioid addiction affects every part of American society. Rural and white Americans were the likeliest to report personal or family opioid addiction, but significant percentages of Black, Hispanic, urban and suburban families did, as well. Overdose fatality rates among Black Americans have climbed substantially in recent years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found in a study last year. A third of Americans fear that someone in their family will die of an opioid overdose, researchers discovered. Methadone, another opioid addiction medication that alleviates cravings, is heavily regulated and often difficult for drug users to access and use continuously, prompting repeated calls from addiction physicians and public health experts for easing restrictions.

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Persons: KFF, “, —, ”, naloxone, David Fiellin, Biden Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, Yale School of Medicine, AIDS Locations: ”, Georgia, South Carolina