Final answer:
An initial fill is the first dispensing of a prescribed medication, often limited in quantity under new regulations to combat the opioid epidemic. The opioid crisis began with the overprescription of painkillers in the 1990s and has resulted in extensive addiction and overdose rates, leading to legislative responses like the AZ Opioid Epidemic Act to curb the availability of opioids.
Step-by-step explanation:
An initial fill refers to the first dispensing of a prescribed medication for a patient. In the context of the opioid epidemic, the concept of initial fill becomes critical as it relates to the restrictions placed on opioids to reduce the potential for addiction and abuse. This initial prescription is usually limited in quantity to prevent the accumulation of unused medication, which could increase the risk of misuse and diversion into illegal channels.
The opioid epidemic has seen dramatic increases in addiction and overdose deaths, termed the worst drug crisis in American history. Begun in the 1990s with the mass-marketing of opioid drugs like OxyContin, the crisis has led to rampant misuse. The push for prescribing these medications came with strong assertions of their safety, which have since been proven false, as even patients using the drugs as prescribed could become addicted.
As opioid addiction surged, policies changed, and an AZ Opioid Epidemic Act has been among the legislative responses to this crisis. It aims to reduce the availability of prescription pain relievers as a means to curb this public health emergency. With the black market prices for opioid prescriptions soaring, cheaper alternatives such as heroin became prevalent, often adulterated with even more dangerous substances like fentanyl, compounding the crisis.