Opioid Epidemic | National Funeral Director's Association

The Opioid Epidemic

Drug overdose is the leading cause of death for Americans under 50 years of age and the death rate continues to rise due to the opioid crisis, which has been declared a national emergency.

The opioid crisis presents unique challenges for funeral directors, from working with families whose loved one has died from an overdose to protecting themselves from harm when handling the body of an overdose victim during removal or embalming.

Be prepared! Understand the epidemic so you can better serve your families and protect yourself.

Featured Article: Short Answers to Hard Questions About the Opioid Crisis (New York Times)

For several years, an increasing number of health authorities in the United States have regarded the opioid crisis a national emergency.

With the death toll from drugs rising faster than ever, you might feel that you could use a little catching up. For a quick refresher, and more on the practical effects of a formal declaration of an emergency, here are answers to 12 critical questions.

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The Opioid Epidemic

Gain essential information and ideas for confronting the opioid crisis from the funeral director's perspective:

Here are some resources you can post or distribute to your staff:

Grief Resources

Additional Resources