Community Strategies to Address the Opioid Epidemic: A Literature Review Francis Melaragni Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University Abstract Introduction The impact of opioid drug abuse which includes both misuse of prescribed medication and illegal consumption of heroin and other opioids has become and been declared a public health emergency in Massachusetts and many other states. This problem has also been recognized as an urgent issue at the national level, and has received focus and attention from The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The purpose of this literature review is to assess what tactics and
Bennet, A. S., Bell, A., Tomedi, L., Hulsey, E. G., & Kral, A. H. (2011). Characteristics of an overdose prevention, response, and nalaxone distribution program in Pitsburgh and Alleghany County, Pennsylvania. Journal of Urban Health , 88 (6), 1020-1030. Bennet, Bell, Tomedi, Hulsey, and Kral (2011) describe the experiences of participants in an Overdose Prevention Program (OPP). Their sample consisted of participants of a needle exchange program who volunteered to be part of this study.
Essentially, these social and economic challenges seem to rile the effects of this addiction. The failed economy, high poverty rates, poor living and working conditions can lead to depression and feelings of pain. “... economic hardship, social isolation, and hopelessness [are] reasons for drug use” (Dasgupta 184). With social problems rising the demand for opioids has spiked. This drug crisis is a societal reaction and obvious manifestation of an economic recession.
The use of heroin is drastically growing; many people are dying of overdose or getting killed over the drug. For example, my aunt works in a hospital, she read the report of a 23-year-old her patient that had ate 46 bags of heroin and now was in intensive care. My speech today on heroin will be divided in two parts, the first part of my speech I will be talking about, current problems we will face if we use heroin, the second
Quinones states, “As the opiate epidemic mangled the middle class, these kids doped up and dropped out. Earlier generations of opiate addicts became self-employed construction workers or painters, because that was all they could manage with heroin, and often jail, in their lives” (274), which is a major problem America faces when trying to solve the opiate epidemic. If we educate the states about the addiction rates and potential danger of opiates, public opinion could shift, creating alternate solutions to solving the heroin epidemic in America. In order to lower the amount of opiate addicts the stigma that used to be associated with opiate use needs to return. The fear that used to surround opiate use was one of the only reasons opiates were not used as medication.
Opioid Epidemic in the United States The opioid crisis has risen over the years here in America. The addiction to painkillers has caused many drug overdoses across America. According to the Vox," In 2015, more than 52,000 people have died from drug overdoses from linked to opioids such as Percocet, heroin, Oxycontin or even fentanyl. This problem did not become an overnight health crisis, but it has become quickly known in America. Expanding our drug treatment centers across America would provide the support to those who are addicted to drugs.
I. Importance: As American deaths from drug overdoses continue to rise in the United States, the nation is faced with a public health crisis so profound that in October 2017, President Trump declared the opioid epidemic to be a national public health emergency (Merica). President Trump’s declaration came after numerous studies indicating the danger opioid addiction posed; for example, a 2016 study entitled “Increases in Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths—United States, 2010-2015” claimed that drug overdose deaths “nearly tripled during 1999-2014,” reaching a startling high 52,404 deaths in 2015 (Rudd, et al). These statistics are more than just disturbing revelations regarding the opioid crisis; they are evidence of a serious problem that is rapidly affecting the lives of more and more Americans every year. Death by overdose is not the only public policy concern, however, as millions of Americans are also addicted to prescription opioids.
This question is addressed in the third section of the article. For that reason, the author writes with a rhetoric of pathos to encourage the reader to persevere and also purchase Naloxone, a drug which can alter the effects of opioids in case of emergency. Since addiction is an emotional subject, this section of the article contains much pathos rhetoric
When people take these synthetic heroin pills, they do not feel as though it is a drug addiction as much as it is a way for them to deal with pain, over-stimulation, and as a tranquilizer. Today, we are currently facing an epidemic with drug addiction and continuously trying to solve the problem with a war on drugs. “The U.S. spends about $51 billion a year enforcing the war on drugs, and arrests nearly 1.5 million people for drug violations, according to Drug Policy Alliance, a drug policy reform group” (Ferner). Since the United States spends so much money on this epidemic, the numbers should start to go down, but it is instead doing the opposite. It is easy to figure out the numbers through doctors, “Increases in prescription drug misuse over the last
In the United States alone, more than 36 million people abuse illegal substances, however, most of these are not caused by the prescription of opioids. A drug abuse crisis is overtaking the U.S. Drug abuse kills over 200,000 people worldwide each year, although only .002 percent of these deaths are caused by the prescription of opioids. 117 million people suffer from a chronic illness, many of which need the prescription of opioids to function on a daily basis. Even though many people abuse them, doctors should not stop prescribing opioids because they are necessary for many people to function, most people who abuse them have had problems with other substances, and most opioid-related deaths do not come from doctor prescribed pills.
The use of narcotics in America is on a steady rise, Opioids such as Heroin being the deadliest. It’s categorized as a “Schedule 1,” meaning a high potential for abuse, along with severe psychological and physical dependence. Before the Twentieth Century, Heroin was actually widely available and marketed by Bayer, and Aspirin Company. This deadly substance can be injected, snorted, or smoked.
SOUTHERN TIER (WENY) - Elected official, Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, is joining in on the fight to combat heroin. Palmesano along with the New York State Assembly Minority Task Force unveiled a comprehensive plan to tackle the on going drug problem happening across the state. "Not a day goes by that you don 't hear in the news someone over dosing or someone dying and this is something we need to address," explains Assemblyman Palmesano. The plan is called HELP, which stands for Heroin ELimination and Prevention plan.
Three things I found interesting about the Methadone treatment is: 1. In the video a man said that all they are given is another drug without therapy or counseling even though research suggests that methadone maintenance programs are most effective when combined with things like psychotherapy and family therapy. 2. Another man in the video said that the withdrawal symptoms while using methadone were worse than when he tried to quit using heroin by stopping completely. It seems then that methadone has terrible side effects that might discourage those trying to treat a heroin addiction.
Dependence on prescription opioids can stem from treatment of chronic pain and in recent years is the cause of the increased number of opioid overdoses. Opioids are very addictive substances, having serious life threatening consequences in case of intentional or accidental overdose. The euphoria attracts recreational use, and frequent,
There are many drugs sold on the streets that are laced with other substances that can be fatal, and, if too much of any drug is taken, even if it isn’t laced with anything, it can cause an overdose, which can lead to death. One example of a drug that is commonly overdosed on is fentanyl. According to a study published by the New York Times, 21,100 people died from overdoses on fentanyl in 2015 (Katz). This drug, among many others, kills hundreds or thousands of Americans every year. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens, which is a government run agency, in 2015, 4,235 people ages 15-24 died from overdoses (Drug).