Cigna recently announced its commitment to help curb the opioid abuse
epidemic, detailing the steps to reduce prescription opioid use among
its customers as well as reducing the stigma of substance abuse.
“To respond to this crisis, all stakeholders — patients, physicians and other providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors, payers, pharmacists and governments — must join together to prevent substance use disorders, and assure access to all appropriate treatments,” Cigna President and CEO David M. Cordani said.
As part of its efforts to reduce the opioid epidemic, Cigna has committed to reducing its customers' use by 25 percent. The health care giant is also supporting efforts to ensure that prescribers check the Prescription Management Program databases before prescribing oxycodone, morphine or other painkillers.
Cigna will also work to eliminate the substance abuse stigma and treat addiction as a chronic disease. It plans to increase awareness about substance abuse disorders. With education, the public can learn that addiction is a chronic disease and understand that a relapse is a setback, not a failure.
Opioid addiction has increased in the U.S., with 18,893 prescription painkiller and 10,574 heroin overdose deaths reported in 2014. The total number of drug overdose deaths was 47,055 in the same year.
Alerts Sign-up