Alabama | NonOpioidChoices

State Facts

794

Deaths, or 67.5% of total overdose deaths involved opioids in 2024.¹

1.6 Million

Claims or 5.69% of all Medicare Part D claims were for opioids in 2022 – an average of 97 per prescriber.²

Opioid Prescriptions were written for every 100 persons in Alabama in 2023 – the second highest rate in the nation.³

$168.7 Million

Estimated excess cost to Alabama Medicaid for OUD in 2022.⁴

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Opioid Settlement Funds

$751,191,899.66

State Spending Recommendation

Ensure tomorrow’s prescribers and dispensers are educated in opioid prescribing today by encouraging all Alabama medical schools and residency programs, osteopathy, podiatry, optometry, dentistry, and veterinary science, as well as their postgraduate training programs to include opioid education as a standard part of their curriculum.

Member & Endorser Footprint

Voices is backed by a broad coalition of organizations across the state united by a shared goal: ensuring patients have access to safe, effective,  and individualized pain management throughout the continuum of care.

Co-Sponsors (119th)

Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL)

Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL-4)

Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL-07)

2025 Introduced Relevant Legislation

SB 161

This legislation establishes coverage parity between opioid and nonopioid pain medications in Alabama Medicaid.

Introduced

02/11/2025

Plan Impact

Medicaid

Learn More

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2025). Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024). Medicare Part D Opioid Prescribing Mapping Tool. https://cms-oeda.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=5390718d875d4c049b1ac5976a9ff083

3. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2024). Opioid Dispensing Rate Maps. https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/data-research/facts-stats/opioid-dispensing-rate-maps.html

4. Health Management Associates (2025). Opioid Use Disorder in the Medicaid Fee-For-Service Program Economic Analysis. Opioid-Use-Disorder-Economic-Impact-on-Medicaid-Program-073125.pdf