Page 23 - Provoke Magazine Vol1

EMIC RAGES ON
THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC
Last year the United States Department of Health and Human Ser- vices declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency. As of 2018, new measures are being taken to end the epidemic, yet, the sta- tistics remain a sobering reminder of the toll opioids are having on our country and communities.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released new statistics indicating a 10% increase in drug overdoses, a national record for the United States and costing the lives of 72,300 Amer- icans. The Opioid Epidemic is the main reason for this jump in deaths. Health and Human services has developed a five-pronged attack on the crisis:
“1. Improving access to treatment and recovery services.”
“2. Promoting use of overdose-reversing drugs.”
“3. Strengthening our understanding of the epidemic through bet- ter public health surveillance.”
“4. Providing support for cutting-edge research on pain and addic- tion.”
“5. Advancing better practices for pain management.”Along with this, new programs have been initiated such as the EAL Initiative Research Plan. This team is tackling a variety of issues believed to be the main source of the epidemic. This includes pain man- agement. Many Americans suffer through pain and are prescribed opioids which may become the gateway to harder drugs such as heroin.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “an estimated 4 to 6 percent of patients who misuse prescription opioids transition to heroin.” Because of lower costs, these patients develop a drug addic- tion which quickly leads to overdose and even death.
The causes of the epidemic also go back to many doctor’s around the country over-prescribing painkillers such as oxycodone. Meanwhile, foreign drug cartels are sweeping the nation with an abundance of cheap heroin and other synthetic opioids like fen- tanyl. The effect on the nation is not only a drag on the economy or a threat to national security of course. On the smaller and more significant level families all over the country are losing their loved ones.
The New York Times broke a story earlier this year titled “1 Son, 4 Overdoses, 6 Hours”. The shocking and heart wrenching story details the chaotic life swirling around one young user and his family. However, these kinds of stories are not so unfamiliar to Americans all over.
As national agencies work to curb opioid use and gain control of the epidemic, the battle is being taken to the local level. One County Sherriff’s Department out of Ohio is taking direct mea- sures to help their citizens and stop the crisis. The Lucas Country Sheriff’s department has initiated a Drug Abuse Response Team (DART), to deal with those suffering from addiction all the way through to the recovery phase. The unit works closely with the community by following up with users for two years after initial responses to any drug overdose. These Officers are also focused on educating people in an effort to reduce first-time users while also helping addicts understand their addiction. Many other cities across the country are taking up similar initiatives.
In Buffalo, NY, the Opiate Crisis Intervention Court uses similar methods to stop the epidemic. Charged offenders who indicate being high risk for opioid overdose receive 30 consecutive days of counseling from their Judge.
While the United States battles the opiate crisis, it is important for us to all learn about drugs and drug abuse. Talking more open- ing about addiction may help break stigmas and keep first-time users away from opiates altogether. The epidemic is certainly not over, though, many steps are being taken from the national to lo- cal level.
Wilder Carnes
RAGES ON
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