Which substance was recognized by the Centers for Disease Control as a significant health challenge in 2014, as highlighted in a Surgeon General's report?

In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified opioids as a significant health challenge in the United States, which was subsequently emphasized in a report from the Surgeon General. This period marked a crucial point in the opioid epidemic, as there was a dramatic increase in prescription opioid misuse and overdose deaths. The report brought attention to the urgent need for public health responses and interventions to address the rising rates of addiction, overdose, and associated health complications.

While substances such as cocaine, alcohol, and nicotine also present major health issues, the specific focus on opioids in the 2014 reports reflects the growing crisis surrounding opioid use disorder at that time. The public health community recognized the unique and severe impacts of opioid addiction, prompting coordinated efforts to improve treatment, prevention, and education regarding opioid use.