The opioid epidemic is a major problem in the United States, with approximately 128 people dying daily from opioid overdoses. The over-prescription of opioids by doctors and aggressive marketing of opioids by pharmaceutical companies has contributed significantly to increased addiction rates. While opioids are effective for managing pain in the short term, long-term usage can lead to addiction, especially as patients rely on them instead of alternative pain management methods. Public policy responses have included making the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone more widely available, limiting initial opioid prescription amounts, and requiring electronic prescription tracking to curb misuse and falsified prescriptions.