The opioid epidemic has been declared a national emergency that resulted in nearly 50,000 opioid overdose deaths last year alone. Counselors can and should be meaningfully involved in response. This session will present current information about the opioid crisis and the addictive process generally, and then specifically focus on opioid addiction, treatment and recovery. The session will explore how counselors can effectively respond to clients who use opioids, including for pain management, and how education, prevention, and treatment are important ways counselors can respond to the opioid crisis.