When Dr. Vivek Murthy left his Massachusetts hospital three years ago to become U.S. surgeon general, the nurses who had known him since he was a resident had a parting plea: Do something about addiction. The report comes at a time of great concern about addiction and uncertainty about how the Trump administration will respond to it. Prescription painkillers have killed more than 200,000 people since 1999 and their abuse has led to a resurgence in heroin addiction. More than 20 million Americans suffer from substance abuse disorders, far more than are diagnosed with cancer, but only about 10% receive treatment, according to the report. In the run-up to the presidential primaries in New Hampshire and Iowa, areas reeling from opioid abuse, addiction was a central campaign issue with candidates sharing stories about family members and friends who were affected.

Source: Los Angeles Times November 17, 2016 19:16 UTC