Following is a statement by Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD, president of the American Psychological Association, reacting to the announcement that for the first time in U.S. history more than 100,000 people died of drug overdoses in just 12 months:

“It is heartbreaking to hear that more than 100,000 people have died as the nation continues to grapple with the devastation of the pandemic—not just because of the human toll on families and communities, but because we have the science and knowledge to prevent much of this unnecessary suffering. We cannot react in horror to these headlines and then fail to implement the actions we know will help. 

“Research shows that a comprehensive set of services is needed to maximize our nation’s recovery from the current opioid and drug epidemic. This means using a science-based, ‘whole person’ approach that addresses individuals’ behavioral health needs while addressing the context in which they live, work and play—such as their employment, education and housing. While substantial investments have been made to treat substance use disorders, we know that providing one-time or temporary funding is not adequate. A steady stream of funding is critical, with a focus on sustainability and enough flexibility for states not only to address current treatment needs, but prevent others who are at-risk from reaching a point of crisis. A key piece of this involves finding better ways for patients to manage chronic pain other than opioids.

“Research on the treatment of opioid use disorder consistently shows that psychological services improve the effectiveness of medication, suggesting the critical need for greater funding of nonpharmacological treatment for chronic pain and increased access to psychological interventions and integrated pain management. As part of treatment teams, psychologists address conditions that often accompany substance use and complicate recovery, including pain, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychologists also are developing screening tools to determine which patients experiencing chronic pain are at higher risk for opioid misuse and should not be prescribed opioids. 

“Administrative and infrastructure changes are also key to improving access to treatment for those who need it. This includes strengthening the enforcement of mental health and substance use parity laws and ensuring equitable access to preventive and treatment services, with particular attention to communities that are being disproportionately affected, such as rural and frontier communities.”