Carnegie Mellon University Jul 16 2025 Illegal opioids can create substantial harms, but the extent of those harms depends on multiple factors, including the amount consumed. In a new study, researchers assessed whether opioid consumption intensity varies appreciably over time or context. They found that intensity-as opposed to prevalence-of illegal opioid use varies enormously. These findings have implications for drug treatment and policy. The study, by researchers at Carnegie Mellon