Deaths involving synthetic opioids in the United States increased from roughly 3,000 in 2013 to more than 30,000 in 2018 and synthetic opioids are now involved in twice as many deaths as heroin. This book offers a systematic assessment of the past, present, and possible futures of synthetic opioids in the United States. The goal is to provide decision-makers, researchers, media outlets, and the public with information to better understand the synthetic opioid problem and how to respond to it.

RAND Corporation