Nursing and the Opioid Epidemic

Page reviewed and updated: March 12, 2025

The opioid epidemic is a serious public health issue, resulting from increased use of prescription and nonprescription opioid medications. Drug overdose is a leading cause of injury death in the United States, and as nurses, we have a responsibility to get involved and educate patients and the public about the opioid epidemic. We can start by increasing our own knowledge and updating our understanding of the problem, adequately and appropriately assessing and managing pain, and advocating for responsible use of opioids. We’ve compiled the resources below to help nurses and advanced practice nurses successfully contribute to this effort.

Opioids and the opioid crisis

Lived Experience of Postpartum Women in Recovery for Opioid Use Disorder on Medication-Assisted Therapy
MCN, The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, January/February 2025

New Form of Opioid Antagonist Now Available
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, December 2024

Pregnant Women's Experiences of Seeking Treatment for Opioid Use
MCN, The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, July/August 2024

Opioid Use: Revised Warnings, Patient Education, and Safety Considerations
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, August 2023

CE A Possible Case of Opioid-Induced Hypoglycemia and the Potential Role of Naloxone
Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal, April/June 2023
 

Opioid-Related Risk Screening Measures for the Emergency Care Setting
Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal, October/December 2021

CE A Quality Improvement Project to Reduce Postcesarean Opioid Consumption
MCN, The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, July/August 2021

Managing patients with opioid use disorder (OUD)

A New Holistic Theoretical Framework to Inform Opioid Use Disorder Management
Journal of Addictions Nursing, January/March 2025

Pain Management for Patients With Opioid Use Disorders
Orthopaedic Nursing, January/February 2025

Clinic- and prescriber-level deimplementation strategies help reduce opioid prescribing
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, February 2025

Scenario Validation for Opioid Use Disorder Stigma-Related Nursing Simulations
Journal of Addictions Nursing, October/December 2024

New Resources for Primary Care Providers Treating Opioid Use Disorder
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, November 2024

Opioid-Associated Emergencies: A Review of Their Management and the Utility of Naloxone
Orthopaedic Nursing, January/February 2024

CE Reducing Bias Against People with Substance Use Disorders
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, January 2024

Perceived Stressors and Support in Family Caregivers of Individuals With Opioid Use Disorder
Journal of Addictions Nursing, October/December 2023

Nighttime Sleep and Respiratory Disturbances in Individuals Receiving Methadone to Treat Opioid Use Disorder
Journal of Addictions Nursing, October/December 2023

CE A Pathway to Treatment for Pregnant Women With Opioid Use Disorder
Journal of Addictions Nursing, July/September 2023

The Lived Experience of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder: Qualitative Metasynthesis
Journal of Addictions Nursing, July/September 2023

Compassionate Care for People with Cancer and Opioid Use Disorder
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, August 2023

CE Breastfeeding Infants in Women with Opioid Use Disorder
Journal of Christian Nursing, April/June 2022

Health Care Experiences During Pregnancy and Parenting with an Opioid Use Disorder
MCN, The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, March/April 2022

Nurses' Practices With Persons Experiencing Opioid Use Disorder: A Narrative Literature Review
Journal of Addictions Nursing, January/March 2022

Providing supportive care for patients with opioid use disorder
Nursing2021, July2021

For advanced practice nurses

Empowering NPs to Treat Opioid Use Disorder
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, February 2024

The NP and medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder
The Nurse Practitioner, July 2022