A new federal report released Thursday calls for a shift in the way America addresses substance addictions, finding one in seven Americans will face such disorders. Only 10 percent of those now addicted receive treatment, the study said.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in 2014 there were 28,000 Americans who died from opioid overdose. The prescribing of opioid pills by physicians such as hydrocodone for pain rose rapidly from 2001 through 2011, and Kertesz endorsed the view that this increase in prescribing helped to spur today’s epidemic.

UAB expert Stefan Kertesz, M.D., researches and treats opioid and substance addiction.

Stefan Kertesz, M.D. MScAssociate ProfessorDivision of Preventive MedicineUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamResearch interests:- Natural history and consequences of substance misuse in adults- Access to quality addiction and medical care for homeless and other underserved populations- Development of health professionals to address unmet health needs among disadvantaged populations

Kertesz bio: https://www.uab.edu/medicine/dopm/primary-faculty-menu/kertesz

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Expert Pitch
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Addiction Drugs and Drug Abuse Substance Abuse
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Opioid Abuse Opioid Substance Abuse Addiction Drug Abuse Surgeon General's Report University of Alabama at Birmingham
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