# Framing, Narratives, and the Overdose Crisis

## TL;DR

The paper explores how different narratives and framing influence responses to the overdose crisis and suggests that considering multiple perspectives can lead to better solutions.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a nuanced analysis of how framing affects stakeholder interactions in the overdose crisis.

## Key findings

- Dominant narratives influence policy and clinical practices related to opioids.
- Engaging multiple perspectives can improve responses to public health emergencies.
- Stakeholder interactions are shaped by how problems are framed.

## Abstract

Narratives and frames have shaped the overdose crisis since its early stages. Efforts to control knowledge about the role of opioids in chronic pain have influenced clinical guidelines and prescribing behaviour. Dominant narratives shape policy by influencing how problems are defined, and which solutions are considered appropriate. A more nuanced understanding of how framing shapes interactions among stakeholders, including patients, clinicians, advocacy groups, industry, educators, and regulators, can clarify these dynamics. Engaging multiple perspectives, rather than relying on a single dominant narrative, offers a more effective path for addressing complex public health emergencies such as the overdose crisis.