Across the Divide: Americans Largely United on the Severity of the Overdose Crisis
The United States may feel deeply polarized, but new research suggests there is rare common ground on one urgent issue: opioid overdose deaths. According to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, nearly nine out of ten U.S. adults believe overdose deaths represent a very serious national problem—a view shared broadly across political lines.
The findings show not only widespread concern, but also a shift in how Americans assign responsibility. While people who use opioids are still frequently blamed, a large majority of respondents also hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for the scale and severity of overdose deaths.
“That result stood out to us,” said lead author Beth McGinty, PhD, chief of the Division of Health Policy and Economics at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. “Given how heavily addiction is stigmatized, we expected responsibility to fall more squarely on individuals who use opioids. Instead, pharmaceutical companies appear to be top of mind—likely influenced by the extensive media coverage of lawsuits detailing their role in the crisis.”
A broad consensus, despite political differences
The study surveyed 1,552 adults across the country through an online questionnaire, examining attitudes toward opioid overdose deaths and how those views varied by political ideology.
The results come at a moment of cautious optimism. Background data cited by the researchers show that U.S. opioid overdose deaths declined by nearly 27%, dropping from 83,140 deaths in 2023 to 54,473 in 2024. Even with that progress, public concern remains high.
Overall, 88% of respondents described overdose deaths as a very serious issue. That concern crossed ideological boundaries, with 83% of conservatives, 89% of moderates, and 93% of liberals expressing this view.
Who is seen as responsible?
When asked who should bear responsibility for reducing overdose deaths, opinions became more nuanced. About 81% of respondents said people who use opioids have responsibility, but nearly 73% also pointed to pharmaceutical companies as playing a significant role.
Liberals were most likely to hold drug manufacturers accountable, with 83% saying pharmaceutical companies share responsibility for preventing overdose deaths. However, this view was far from limited to the left: 66% of conservatives and 71% of moderates also identified pharmaceutical companies as contributors to the crisis.
At the same time, blame directed toward individuals who use opioids remained high—particularly among conservatives. Opioid users were identified as responsible by 88% of conservatives, 84% of moderates, and 70% of liberals.
McGinty noted that this combination of views may influence public support for policy solutions. “Actions like lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies and using settlement funds to support addiction and overdose prevention programs may be more politically viable than expected,” she said.
Persistent stigma remains a barrier
Despite broad agreement on the seriousness of the overdose epidemic, the study revealed that stigma toward addiction remains deeply entrenched. More than one-third of respondents (38%) said they would be unwilling to live next door to someone with opioid addiction. Even more striking, 58% said they would not want a person with opioid addiction to marry into their family.
“These results suggest that while there is consensus that the overdose crisis demands policy attention, differences in how responsibility and stigma are perceived may shape which solutions people support,” McGinty explained.
Looking ahead
The research team plans to further explore public attitudes toward evidence-based treatment approaches. One upcoming focus will be gauging support for policies that require substance use treatment programs to offer medications such as buprenorphine, which is widely recognized as one of the most effective tools for preventing overdose deaths.
“Many state programs have historically emphasized abstinence-only models,” McGinty said. “But medications for opioid use disorder are proven to save lives. Understanding public support for expanding access to these treatments is a critical next step.”
Together, the findings highlight a rare area of national agreement—paired with ongoing challenges around stigma and policy priorities—as the country continues to confront the overdose crisis.
Source: Powers Health