STOP UNNECESSARY PRESCRIPTIONS
Opioids are costing your health plan more than you think
Find out how much with an Opioid Impact Assessment
What if you could deploy a data-driven solution that improves the health and well-being of your members and community, while saving your health plan 6-8% of overall costs on a recurring basis.
The Cost of Addiction
Behind every statistic is a missed opportunity for prevention.
These numbers reflect a system that has been extraordinarily effective at managing pain in the short term – and has struggled to define when that management should end.
45 Million
New opioid prescriptions tied to surgery alone each year.
3+ Million
Americans who become newly dependent following routine medical care – many without knowing the risks.
200+ Lives
Lost every day to drug overdoese in the United States.
$2.7 Trillion
Economic Burden of opioid use disorder in 2023.
OPIOID FREE STEWARDSHIP
The First Opioid Free Stewardship Program in the U.S.
For millions of Americans, opioid dependence began within the healthcare system – through well-intentioned care, without a clear plan for stopping treatment, and without a full understanding of the risks. This is where the crisis began. And it is exactly where true prevention must begin.
The Opioid Free America Opioid Stewardship Implementation Program & Registry gives healthcare facilities and providers the framework, tools, and recognition to make prevention-first care the standard – not the exception.
The shift is already underway. We’d love to have you lead it with us.
Two Pathways. One Mission.
For Healthcare Facilities
A complete opioid stewardship framework. Eight focused modules, downloadable protocols, and real-world implementation tools – built to help your organization redesign how pain is managed across the entire care continuum. Facilities that complete the program and can demonstrate active stewardship are listed in the Opioid Free America Stewardship Registry Network.
For Individual Providers
Opioid Free America Provider Recognition for clinicians committed to prevention-first, opioid-sparing care. Demonstrate your personal commitment to safer pain management – and reinforce your facility’s broader stewardship efforts.
Join the Movement
Join our newsletter for updates on our efforts to end the opioid crisis and how you can get involved.
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
When OFA uses the term “opioid-free,” we are referring to outcomes—not the complete elimination of opioids in every clinical situation.
There are circumstances where opioid medications are necessary and appropriate. Treatment decisions always remain between patients and their providers.
Our focus is on prevention-first, care—where clinicians use the safest and most effective options available and minimizing unnecessary opioid exposure wherever possible.
Overprescribing often stems from the absence of a clear discontinuation plan—physicians know when to write the first prescription, but not always the last.
We use advanced analytics to identify early signs of risk before addiction develops. Through targeted provider outreach and education, we support alignment with best-practices to help prevent unnecessary exposure before it leads to dependence.
Our Opioid Stewardship Implementation Program & Registry is designed to recognize providers and facilities who have committed to prevention-first, responsible care.
Through practical tools, evidence-based protocols, and real-world implementation guidance, we help organizations establish facility-level opioid stewardship programs, including the development of their own monitoring and tracking framework.
Participating organizations submit quarterly reviews to demonstrate implementation, performance measurement, and continuous improvement.
There’s a role for everyone in preventing opioid addiction.
Whether you’re a provider, employer, strategic partner, donor—or simply someone who wants to do the right thing—you can help reduce unnecessary opioid exposure and support prevention-focused care.
Want to learn more?
Our mission to prevent opioid addiction often raises important questions—especially around pain care, prescribing decisions, and the meaning of “opioid-free.”
We welcome those conversations.
Explore our expanded Q&A for more in-depth answers, or submit your own question or concern to help guide the conversation forward.