Hospital medicine physicians need to play a role in the reversal of America's prescription epidemic. Crucial to this effort is a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology of addiction and pain; the origin of the epidemic; the treatment of chronic pain, addiction, and corresponding mental illness; and the current strategy that is unfolding to solve this crisis. The hospitalist role will be to coordinate care with other providers, make long-term treatment care plans, withdraw patients from opioids, and participate with system administrators to make the necessary healthcare system organizational changes.