Informative Essay On Opioids

Opioids are substances that act on opioid receptors to produce morphine-like effects. Medically they are primarily used for pain relief, including anesthesia. Opioids are also frequently used non-medically for their euphoric effects or to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Examples of opioids are morphine, heroin, oxycodone, and methadone. Opioid overdose is an acute and serious condition due to excessive opioids use.

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.

Within the last 22 years, from 1991 to 2013, the prescriptions written by doctors for opioids have increased from 76 million to 207 million. Opioids are a drug class that were developed originally, to treat severe pain for people who are dying of cancer or other severe illnesses. This began when pharmaceutical companies assured the medical community that people would not become addicted to opioid pain relievers. As a result doctors began to prescribe opioids more frequently. There are different kinds of opioids.

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.

Big Pharma Name: Institution: Over the past years, various issues have faced the United States of America in the health sector in general. Some of these challenges include difficulties in healthcare insurance policies, increasing cancer cases, elevated levels of misuse of prescription drugs, rise in the consumption of illicit drugs, inter alia. These issues have led to escalation of health issues to the American citizens, and in turn, affecting the economic status as well. This research will focus on the subject matter misuse, abuse, and addiction of opioid prescription drugs.

When OxyContin went off the market in 2012, a new drug came to raise, Fentanyl. Fentanyl is a potent, fast acting, synthetic pain killer; its potency is 100 times greater than morphine and about 50 times greater than heroin (FISCHER, 2016). It was marketed to cancer patients and those In severe chronic pain. Fentanyl was created by a company called Insys Therapeutics, INC. This drug is beginning to take Canada by storm, with its potency overdoses and deaths are happening across the country, it is almost impossible to turn of the news without the mention of this drug.

Across the world abusing prescription drugs causes more deaths than street drugs do combined (“International Statistics”). Prescription drugs are so easy to get ahold of and so easy to get addicted to. The misuse of prescription drugs have gotten out of hand. These drugs can cause unintentional overdoses easily. The misuse of prescription drugs can lead to addiction, affect the health of users in a dramatic way, and even cause death.

The study was done on patients who were in the emergency department and were prescribed opioids. They interviewed patients at home. It consisted of two different interviews. The research assistant looked to see where the opioids were being stored and to see if they were being safely stored. Twenty five patients gave consent to be part of the study.

Going into this class, I thought it was just going to another English, but now thinking back I did learn something new. I would like to believe that I was pretty attentive. I did not miss any task, but I did turn in seven task in late; task number two, six, seven, nine, ten, eleven, and fourteen. I did open all of the readings and I would either skim it or I would read it; several times even. My favorite reading was by Bill Ivey and Steven J. Tepper the “Cultural Renaissance or Cultural Divide?”.

A recurring problem of epic proportions in my community is the opioid crisis. I am deeply saddened watching and hearing stories of how this epidemic is destroying both individuals and families on a daily basis. I have seen the destruction first hand in my high school which inspired me to join SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions). I have both counselled and consoled my fellow students inspiring them to get help and, equally important, caring for them during their

Assessment This patient has been taking medication because they suffered a sports injury in 2010. The pills have been prescribed from by their PCP. Therefore, the client tested positive for opiates. The client also states that they have never had any issues with drugs in the past and that they have never had any problems with their professional license or employment.