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The Opioid Crisis

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The opium poppy plant produces substances that act as a pain reliever. Most opioid drugs like morphine and hydrocodone that treat severe pain, contain the products of these poppy plants. Opioids are powerful narcotics that have over the years been taken advantage of but should exclusively be for medical purposes only prescribed by physicians. Nabarun Dasgupta is a pharmaceutical epidemiologist who has a Ph.D. in pharmacy from the University of North Carolina. Nabarun wrote a peer-reviewed article about the opioid crisis and how economic factors intensify the epidemic. He reports, it is false to say that overprescription is the only cause of this national crisis. Dasgupta claims that some of the blame must also go to structural components like …show more content…

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. “In much of the country, the counties with the lowest levels of social capital have the highest overdose rates” (Dasgupta 183). Drug use is now commonly used as a coping method for emotional pain caused by social stressors and economic hardships. Social stressors are to blame for eroding humanities physical and mental well-being. The easiest approach for treatment and relief from emotional and physical pain seems to be prescribing opioids for immediate results; however, it is not the most effective.
Another cause of opioid misuse is painful working conditions and an excessive amount of job injuries that lead to disabilities and poverty. “Although opioid analgesics may allow those with otherwise debilitating injuries to maintain employment, individuals in manual labor occupations appear to be at increased risk for non-medical use” (Dasgupta 183). Physicians prescribe painkillers manly to the American middle and working class which coincidentally have the most social problems leading them to

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