America’s Opioid Obsession: The Root of an Epidemic and a Potential Solution
A killer hiding in plain sight, opioid addiction, also known as opioid use disorder (OUD), is killing Americans at an increasing rate with no sign of slowing down. Though it has taken the lives of millions, the subject is still highly stigmatized by the public and media and never manages to stay at the forefront of people’s minds for long enough, resulting in a lack of the necessary attention needed to decrease the rate of these deaths. The opioid epidemic is fueled by access. Access to opioids in all forms, has never been easier, while the access to treatment of OUD faces a multitude of barriers that range in intensity, but are still severe. Potential steps that can help solve this issue include increasing access to treatment centers and medications and decreasing the rate that opioids are prescribed by doctors; this will be effective in taking preventative measures against future opioid addiction and helping to treat people already suffering.
Access to opioids through doctor’s prescriptions and heroin faces very few challenges. The introduction to a life of opioid addiction almost always starts with a doctor’s enthusiastic permission. Left over pills and the nonaction taken by clinics to investigate what a patient is currently taking leads to the over prescription of these drugs. Between 1999 and 2013, the number of opioids prescribed by doctors more than quadrupled (Cleveland-Marshall Journal of Law and Health). The overzealous act of prescribing these pain-killing drugs, even to children, can be seen as the direct starting point for many people’s life-long struggle with Opioid Use Disorder. Heroin, compared to opioid pills, is far cheaper and does not have numerous requirements to meet in order to become in possession of it. Heroin is often seen as the next level of severity in terms of opioid addiction. Compared to pills, it is far cheaper and has less requirement in order to gain possession of it. According to academic journalist Guy, “abuse of prescription painkillers is believed to be one of the major causes of the heroin epidemic.” It has also become far more potent in smaller doses and has been observed, in some cases, to be laced with fentanyl. These factors can be seen as the root cause of the recent increase of heroin overdoses. Because of its highly addictive nature, heroin does not appear to affect any specific socioeconomic group; however, it should be noted that a large portion of the homeless and incarcerated population have had documented struggles with OUD. While some people may claim that the majority of recipients of opioids actually use their prescription for the designated purpose, there are still too many doctors prescribing vulnerable people powerful narcotics, opening the door to addiction. Overall, the main drivers of the opioid crisis in America is a result of doctors overprescribing opiate pills to people that do not need something with that strength.
In an age where society is, from birth, connected to medicine, it is disheartening to see that the availability of treatment for those suffering with OUD is virtually nonexistent as it is next to impossible to access. To deal with the opioid epidemic, the criminal justice system mistakenly believes in incarceration and cutting users off cold turkey. The success rate of this practice can easily be considered statistically negligible. In fact, according to academic journalist Csete, “forced abstinence” from opioids decreases the physiological tolerance of a user and, after release from prison, puts them at an “especially high risk of overdose.” In the criminal justice system, it is rare to see these institutions offer any help, either in the form of counseling or psychiatric treatment, to inmates with Opioid Use Disorder. Even when those addicted to opioids do not have run-ins with the law, it is still extremely difficult to get the help they need, especially for those already at a socioeconomic disadvantage. Enrollees of Medicaid are especially affected as full rehabilitation is not covered. According to the Health Services Research, Medicaid enrollees are “six times more likely to die from an opioid overdose” than the non-Medicaid population. The drug Methadone is dispensed by Opioid Treatment Programs all over the United States (Abraham). However, there are a total of only 1,200 of these centers in the entire country, few of which have the necessary certifications to meet Medicaid standards that would ensure the treatment be covered by it (Abraham). This already is severely limiting in the people suffering from OUD that can access the centers, and even more so for those enrolled in Medicaid. While some may claim that the addicts in the justice system or those receiving Medicaid are being appropriately treated for their illness – some may describe OUD as a choice – it is important to see that federal funds are not being used in a way that truly benefits these people in any meaningful way. Overall, people suffering from OUD, who are already unlikely to receive the treatment they need, are put at an even higher disadvantage if they are in prison or jail or are enrolled in Medicaid.
A potential solution to solving the lack of access to treatment and the increasing availability of prescriptions to opioids could be introducing more opioid treatment programs across the country and putting tighter restrictions on doctor’s abilities to write prescriptions for such powerful drugs. Because opioid treatment programs provide counseling services, psychiatric treatments, and other services that help addicts reconnect to society in a healthy way, it only makes sense that more of these institutions be established. The overwhelming demand for treat of opioid use disorder is simply not being met by the supply (Chatterjee). These places are the only ones that are allowed to distribute a drug called Methadone. Methadone is used, and has been used for decades, to treat opioid addiction. It decreases the cravings for opioids and lessens the severity of withdrawal symptoms. It helps to prevent relapse and encourages patients to stay in treatment (Fraser). As of now, the only drug currently and popularly being used to treat OUD is Naloxone, also known as Narcan. It is only helpful in reversing the effects of overdose in the moment. There are no benefits in the long run for the use of this drug, but it is still recommended that people keep it on their person in case a loved one is discovered to have overdosed. Another aspect to the solution in solving opioid addiction is making sure people are not introduced to it in the first place. This can be done by putting tighter restrictions on how a patient is prescribed these narcotics. Most of the time, general physicians are the ones to prescribe this medication rather than actual doctors who specialize in pain. There are far too many children given opioids as means of pain control for relatively minor afflictions. Ensuring that less people are having the door to a potential battle with opioid addiction opened for them requires that doctors be put under a microscope in regards to what they are giving their patients and if it is appropriate given their ailment. Overall, there needs to be an increased number of OTPs in the country and a tighter control over prescriptions handed out by doctors.
Despite the potential benefits, some people may protest that the time and cost of this endeavor would be too great of a sacrifice given that there is no guarantee of full recovery. They believe that the money being spent on “hopeless addicts” could be better spent on other national issues. What they fail to realize is that this crisis is a national issue. The urgency in which lawmakers must act to stop and help prevent this is at an immeasurable level. Every day, 171 Americans die from opioid overdose (Chapman). If the same number of people died from terrorist attacks or even car crashes, action would have been taken. Because it would take too much time, because it would be too expensive, because addicts’ lives are worth less than others when this is not the case, this ideology is dangerous; it must be rethought to save the lives of millions. Overall, this plan is the best because it takes in account preventative measures that helps to keep the number of people suffering from OUD from increasing; as well as giving those affected a chance, however small, at recovery.
The plan that promises a decreased number of addicts with OUD requires the further establishment of OTPs across the country, make sure they are up to date with Medicaid requirements, are well equipped with resources, technology, and funding, and are easily accessible to anyone who might need it. A new board or program can also be established to help train doctors on the risks of overprescribing opioids, how to identify “doctor shoppers,” and analyze patients’ medical records to see if they are at risk or are currently suffering from OUD. In order to actually make this work, a dedicated team of specialists involved in addiction – preferably with ample experience in treating opioid use disorder – will be assembled. Their backgrounds will be diverse and will be able to be knowledgeable on all aspects of addiction, from the science side to the psychological side. It will be a national board that will, in turn, establish regional groups and offices that specialize in the specifics, such as severity and commonness of OUD, in their location. They will be in charge of developing the new training that all pain doctors will be required to attend once a year. They will also be given the responsibility of building and maintaining the new OTPs. The number of centers per state will be based on population of addicts in the state compared to the general populous. This number will also include those incarcerated at the state or federal level. There will also need to be a ban developed for general physicians that prohibit them from prescribing opiates to people they see once a year for wellness checks.
The opioid epidemic is a silent threat. It has claimed the lives of more Americans than the Vietnam War. The media will not cover it. The government will not acknowledge it. The death rates continue to grow because of a lack of awareness, and therefore action, in communities. Despite its obvious threat, there has been no declaration of a national emergency. Opioids do not care what background a person has. If it gets the chance it will kill without mercy. Communities across America need to be more equipped to prevent and treat victims of OUD. The first step requires citizens to urge their representatives to take action, voting out the ones that do not. Doing this will set in motion the aforementioned plans, get them implemented where they are needed most, and stop the rise of opioid-related deaths in this country. No one is safe unless a change is made.
A killer hiding in plain sight, opioid addiction, also known as opioid use disorder (OUD), is killing Americans at an increasing rate with no sign of slowing down. Though it has taken the lives of millions, the subject is still highly stigmatized by the public and media and never manages to stay at the forefront of people’s minds for long enough, resulting in a lack of the necessary attention needed to decrease the rate of these deaths. The opioid epidemic is fueled by access. Access to opioids in all forms, has never been easier, while the access to treatment of OUD faces a multitude of barriers that range in intensity, but are still severe. Potential steps that can help solve this issue include increasing access to treatment centers and medications and decreasing the rate that opioids are prescribed by doctors; this will be effective in taking preventative measures against future opioid addiction and helping to treat people already suffering.
Access to opioids through doctor’s prescriptions and heroin faces very few challenges. The introduction to a life of opioid addiction almost always starts with a doctor’s enthusiastic permission. Left over pills and the nonaction taken by clinics to investigate what a patient is currently taking leads to the over prescription of these drugs. Between 1999 and 2013, the number of opioids prescribed by doctors more than quadrupled (Cleveland-Marshall Journal of Law and Health). The overzealous act of prescribing these pain-killing drugs, even to children, can be seen as the direct starting point for many people’s life-long struggle with Opioid Use Disorder. Heroin, compared to opioid pills, is far cheaper and does not have numerous requirements to meet in order to become in possession of it. Heroin is often seen as the next level of severity in terms of opioid addiction. Compared to pills, it is far cheaper and has less requirement in order to gain possession of it. According to academic journalist Guy, “abuse of prescription painkillers is believed to be one of the major causes of the heroin epidemic.” It has also become far more potent in smaller doses and has been observed, in some cases, to be laced with fentanyl. These factors can be seen as the root cause of the recent increase of heroin overdoses. Because of its highly addictive nature, heroin does not appear to affect any specific socioeconomic group; however, it should be noted that a large portion of the homeless and incarcerated population have had documented struggles with OUD. While some people may claim that the majority of recipients of opioids actually use their prescription for the designated purpose, there are still too many doctors prescribing vulnerable people powerful narcotics, opening the door to addiction. Overall, the main drivers of the opioid crisis in America is a result of doctors overprescribing opiate pills to people that do not need something with that strength.
In an age where society is, from birth, connected to medicine, it is disheartening to see that the availability of treatment for those suffering with OUD is virtually nonexistent as it is next to impossible to access. To deal with the opioid epidemic, the criminal justice system mistakenly believes in incarceration and cutting users off cold turkey. The success rate of this practice can easily be considered statistically negligible. In fact, according to academic journalist Csete, “forced abstinence” from opioids decreases the physiological tolerance of a user and, after release from prison, puts them at an “especially high risk of overdose.” In the criminal justice system, it is rare to see these institutions offer any help, either in the form of counseling or psychiatric treatment, to inmates with Opioid Use Disorder. Even when those addicted to opioids do not have run-ins with the law, it is still extremely difficult to get the help they need, especially for those already at a socioeconomic disadvantage. Enrollees of Medicaid are especially affected as full rehabilitation is not covered. According to the Health Services Research, Medicaid enrollees are “six times more likely to die from an opioid overdose” than the non-Medicaid population. The drug Methadone is dispensed by Opioid Treatment Programs all over the United States (Abraham). However, there are a total of only 1,200 of these centers in the entire country, few of which have the necessary certifications to meet Medicaid standards that would ensure the treatment be covered by it (Abraham). This already is severely limiting in the people suffering from OUD that can access the centers, and even more so for those enrolled in Medicaid. While some may claim that the addicts in the justice system or those receiving Medicaid are being appropriately treated for their illness – some may describe OUD as a choice – it is important to see that federal funds are not being used in a way that truly benefits these people in any meaningful way. Overall, people suffering from OUD, who are already unlikely to receive the treatment they need, are put at an even higher disadvantage if they are in prison or jail or are enrolled in Medicaid.
A potential solution to solving the lack of access to treatment and the increasing availability of prescriptions to opioids could be introducing more opioid treatment programs across the country and putting tighter restrictions on doctor’s abilities to write prescriptions for such powerful drugs. Because opioid treatment programs provide counseling services, psychiatric treatments, and other services that help addicts reconnect to society in a healthy way, it only makes sense that more of these institutions be established. The overwhelming demand for treat of opioid use disorder is simply not being met by the supply (Chatterjee). These places are the only ones that are allowed to distribute a drug called Methadone. Methadone is used, and has been used for decades, to treat opioid addiction. It decreases the cravings for opioids and lessens the severity of withdrawal symptoms. It helps to prevent relapse and encourages patients to stay in treatment (Fraser). As of now, the only drug currently and popularly being used to treat OUD is Naloxone, also known as Narcan. It is only helpful in reversing the effects of overdose in the moment. There are no benefits in the long run for the use of this drug, but it is still recommended that people keep it on their person in case a loved one is discovered to have overdosed. Another aspect to the solution in solving opioid addiction is making sure people are not introduced to it in the first place. This can be done by putting tighter restrictions on how a patient is prescribed these narcotics. Most of the time, general physicians are the ones to prescribe this medication rather than actual doctors who specialize in pain. There are far too many children given opioids as means of pain control for relatively minor afflictions. Ensuring that less people are having the door to a potential battle with opioid addiction opened for them requires that doctors be put under a microscope in regards to what they are giving their patients and if it is appropriate given their ailment. Overall, there needs to be an increased number of OTPs in the country and a tighter control over prescriptions handed out by doctors.
Despite the potential benefits, some people may protest that the time and cost of this endeavor would be too great of a sacrifice given that there is no guarantee of full recovery. They believe that the money being spent on “hopeless addicts” could be better spent on other national issues. What they fail to realize is that this crisis is a national issue. The urgency in which lawmakers must act to stop and help prevent this is at an immeasurable level. Every day, 171 Americans die from opioid overdose (Chapman). If the same number of people died from terrorist attacks or even car crashes, action would have been taken. Because it would take too much time, because it would be too expensive, because addicts’ lives are worth less than others when this is not the case, this ideology is dangerous; it must be rethought to save the lives of millions. Overall, this plan is the best because it takes in account preventative measures that helps to keep the number of people suffering from OUD from increasing; as well as giving those affected a chance, however small, at recovery.
The plan that promises a decreased number of addicts with OUD requires the further establishment of OTPs across the country, make sure they are up to date with Medicaid requirements, are well equipped with resources, technology, and funding, and are easily accessible to anyone who might need it. A new board or program can also be established to help train doctors on the risks of overprescribing opioids, how to identify “doctor shoppers,” and analyze patients’ medical records to see if they are at risk or are currently suffering from OUD. In order to actually make this work, a dedicated team of specialists involved in addiction – preferably with ample experience in treating opioid use disorder – will be assembled. Their backgrounds will be diverse and will be able to be knowledgeable on all aspects of addiction, from the science side to the psychological side. It will be a national board that will, in turn, establish regional groups and offices that specialize in the specifics, such as severity and commonness of OUD, in their location. They will be in charge of developing the new training that all pain doctors will be required to attend once a year. They will also be given the responsibility of building and maintaining the new OTPs. The number of centers per state will be based on population of addicts in the state compared to the general populous. This number will also include those incarcerated at the state or federal level. There will also need to be a ban developed for general physicians that prohibit them from prescribing opiates to people they see once a year for wellness checks.
The opioid epidemic is a silent threat. It has claimed the lives of more Americans than the Vietnam War. The media will not cover it. The government will not acknowledge it. The death rates continue to grow because of a lack of awareness, and therefore action, in communities. Despite its obvious threat, there has been no declaration of a national emergency. Opioids do not care what background a person has. If it gets the chance it will kill without mercy. Communities across America need to be more equipped to prevent and treat victims of OUD. The first step requires citizens to urge their representatives to take action, voting out the ones that do not. Doing this will set in motion the aforementioned plans, get them implemented where they are needed most, and stop the rise of opioid-related deaths in this country. No one is safe unless a change is made.