Prevention For Opioid Drug Abuse Essay Example For Students

Prevention For Opioid Drug Abuse Essay On April 2, Kathleen Errico of Haverhill woke up at 3:45a.m. To find that her 23-year-old daughter, Kelsey Endicott, had lost her life due to a heroin overdose. Kelsey leaves behind her family and a son, whose second birthday is soon approaching. Ms. Errico shares that her daughter, â€Å"turned to drugs to make her feel normal,† and that Kelsey wasn’t aware of how heroin, â€Å"would devastate her family and tear it apart, how it would take her job and leave her penniless, or how it would steal her son from her arms.† Kelsey’s son now lives with Ms. Errico (MacQuarrie and Farragher). Unfortunately, cases such as Kelsey’s are becoming increasingly common in Massachusetts, calling for a much-needed resolution to the opioid epidemic. Drugs contributing to the opioid epidemic include heroin as well as prescription painkillers such as morphine, hydrocodone, codeine, oxycodone, and fentanyl (â€Å"Opioid Addiction†). In Massachusetts, the number of opioid-related hospital visits has roughly doubled from 2007 to 2014, with 31,000 visits in 2007 rising to a staggering 57,000 visits in 2014 (Freyer). A notable increase can also be seen in the number of opioid-related fatalities in the state. The year 2000 ended with a total of 338 unintentional fatal opioid overdoses in Massachusetts (â€Å"United States†). The number of opioid-related deaths has continued to rise each year with 561 fatalities in 2008, 603 fatalities in 2011, 668 fatalities in 2012, 911 fatalities in 2013, and 1,099 fatalities in 2014 (â€Å"United States†). This data represents a 21% increase in the number of unintentional fatal opioid overdoses from the year 2013 to 2014, and a 65% increase from 2012 to 2014 (â€Å"United States †). The increase in the number of opioid-related deaths in recent years has also shown to be more prevalent in certain areas of the state. Freyer shares, â€Å"The Berkshires, Southeastern Massachusetts, and the Lawrence-Lowell area have the highest concentrations of residents who visited the hospital with opioid-related problems.† All age groups are affected by opioid abuse and it has been found that those earning less that $50,000 a year are more apt to be affected (Freyer). The amount of opioid medications prescribed as well as the immense availability of heroin is driving this epidemic. Opioid painkillers prescribed by physicians have shown to contribute to the opioid epidemic. While opioids were once only regularly prescribed to patients battling cancer and other terminal illnesses, there has been an increase in use of opioids to treat musculoskeletal problems, sciatica, and low-back pain (Friedman). With a rise in the number of conditions using painkillers to combat pain, more and more opioid prescriptions are being distributed to patients. In fact, the medical use of opioids has multiplied by ten in the past twenty years, with about half of all prescriptions prescribed by pain specialists now being opioid pain relievers (Friedman). Addiction to these medications has become increasingly more common due in part to the immense amount of opioids that are in circulation throughout the public. In the United States, an estimated 259 million opioid prescriptions were written in 2012, which would allow every American adult a separate bottle of medication (â€Å"Opioid Ad diction†). Along with the massive amount of opioid prescriptions that are being prescribed, the abundant availability of heroin is driving this epidemic. Heroin is both easily obtained and is inexpensive (Freyer). When the supply of an opioid painkiller is cut short, heroin can become a cheaper alternative for someone struggling with opioid addiction. Both the availability of heroin and the amount of opioid painkillers being distributed can be to blame for driving this epidemic. As seen in the number of opioid-related deaths in recent years, more and more families are now being affected by opioid abuse. Families are being torn apart while individuals are losing their lives to opioid overdoses. Studies have shown that those who are addicted to opioids live approximately fifteen years less than people who are not addicted to the painkillers (â€Å"Findings of Opioid Task Force†). In addition to this, individuals addicted to opioids are at a higher risk for developing liver disease, HIV infection, and Hepatitis C (â€Å"Findings of Opioid Task Force†). Effects of opioid abuse have also been observed to affect children. Freyer shares that in Massachusetts, â€Å"The rate of babies born dependent on opioids increased more than fivefold from 2004 to 2013, and in 2009 was 3 times the national average.† These numbers will continue to rise if steps are not taken to try and prevent the progression of this epidemic. Annie Dillard 's `` Seeing `` EssayThe impact of mass media campaigns has also been observed in Australia. A study in Australia assessed the effectiveness of the media campaign â€Å"SunSmart† in regard to the prevention of skin cancer (Wakefield, Loken, and Hornik). The company encourages and promotes the wearing of protective clothing, the use of sunscreen, and the avoidance of direct sunlight during high ultraviolet periods (Wakefield, Loken, and Hornik). Various forms of advertising were used throughout the campaign. The fifteen-year study found that there was a reduction in the prevalence of melanoma in the areas exposed to the campaign, especially among young individuals (Wakefield, Loken, and Hornik). This fifteen-year study in Australia displays the great influence that media campaigns are capable of. While mass media campaigns have proven to be effective in producing positive changes in society, some people would argue that they take years to produce any significant change. Although media campaigns can in fact take time to result in substantial change, the overall effect that a mass media campaign would have on the opioid epidemic would be worthwhile. With the continued efforts of various treatment facilities for opioid abuse in Massachusetts, the use of media campaigning would function to educate the public on the dangers of opioid misuse and would consequently reduce the negative effects that opioid abuse has on society. One alternative solution to preventing opioid abuse in Massachusetts is limiting the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed to patients. Recently, an opioid bill has been passed in Massachusetts that aims to prevent the misuse of opioid painkillers. This bill limits a seven-day supply of medication for initial opioid prescriptions in the state (Miller). By doing so, the bill would help decrease the number of opioid painkillers in circulation throughout the public. A decrease in availability of opioids would help to prevent the start of opioid abuse among individuals. Although the bill could reduce the start of opioid abuse, it would not prevent those who are already addicted to opioids from seeking more medication. Individuals that are already addicted to opioids may turn to heroin when supplies of other opioid painkillers are cut short. A mass media campaign would better serve in preventing opioid abuse, as it would target those already affected by opioid abuse, those at risk for b eing affected, and the general public.