Opioid Use, Addiction and Overdoses Essay

Opioid Use, Addiction and Overdoses Essay

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Opioid Use, Addiction and Overdoses Essay

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Discussion:

Opioid use, addiction, and overdoses have increased to alarming rates in the United States in recent years. Millions of Americans are affected by the opioid epidemic every day. Read Volkow et al.’s (2014) article and pages 1-4 in Brown’s (2018) article before discussing the following questions:

For this week’s main post, answer the following questions. Be sure to include factual, properly cited information in your post.

• What are some ways that opioid addiction is affecting the United States?
• What are some forms of treatment available to those suffering from opioid addiction?
• If you had a friend or family member suffering from opioid addiction, what sort of help would you recommend they seek?

References:

Brown, A. R. (2018). A systematic review of psychosocial interventions in treatment of opioid addiction, Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions. Advance online publication. doi:10.1080/1533256X.2018.1485574

Coon, D., Mitterer, J.O., & Martini, T. (2019). Introduction to psychology: Gateways to mind and behavior (15th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.

Volkow, N. D., Frieden, T. R., Hyde, P. S., & Cha, S. S. (2014). Medication-assisted therapies — tackling the opioid-overdose epidemic. New England Journal of Medicine, 370(22), 2063-2066. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1402780

ARTICLES ARE ATTACHED.

Post 1 Response:

OMAR

Hello,

Not only the opioid addiction, but all addiction is taking a horrible toll in our country. The problem is not that it is in our country, the problem is that it is happening in general. The United States of America have seen an extreme increase in the addiction of the specific opioid drug. What are ways the addiction is affecting us as a country? What are treatments to help affected families and or individuals? If someone you knew suffered from this type of addiction, what will you do?. Questions like these are quite shocking, and unfortunately quite real. “Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), prescription opioids have been the most frequently abused psychotherapeutic drug for more than a decade, and are second only to marijuana for all illicit drugs (Hedden et al., 2014).” (Brown, 2018). This previous fact is striking and concerning to me. How come it is that we as a society can be so hypocritical to the things that matter the most? We treat dog abuse (which is terrible) as a number one crime in America, but we do not shut down overly prescribed pharmacy’s because they fuel our economy. “The problem of opioid abuse is most prevalent among young adults. The same 2014 survey estimated that 2.8% of young adults aged 18 to 25 in the United States were current nonmedical users of opioids (Hedden et al.).” (Brown, 2018). It is affecting our youth like never before. According to Volkow, “Consequently, expanding access to addiction-treatment services is an essential component of a comprehensive response” (Volkow, et al. 2014). However, my opinion is quite different. If extreme changes want to be done, then extreme measures need to be taken. Ending opioid distributions, advocating and promoting natural medicine, alternatives to opioids, etc. All measures that can be taken if the priority truly is ending the epidemic. If I knew someone struggling through this, I would advise to take extreme measures. Go seek help. Stay busy with other life alternatives. Lastly, seek spiritual guidance and identify the root cause of your addiction and destroy it.

POST 2 RESPONSE:

Opioids are the most prescribed drug in health care to reduce anxiety, relaxation, and pain relief. They come in a few different ways: morphine, codeine, oxycodone and fentanyl. Addiction to opioids has caused more than 33,000 deaths in the US since 2015. (pg184) With these drugs it gives a rush feeling of euphoria to the patient, so they are out of pain. Some doctors write prescriptions for opioids like they were candy, since they thought it was a safe way to treat pain.

They use methadone to help with people who are coming off opioids to make them go through withdrawals easier, but you can hook on methadone too.   There are support groups, but it is hard to get off opioids once you start, it is a never-ending circle. You must want to be clean and off drugs before you truly are.

I have my own battle with opioids in my life, I have a fusion in my lower back. For 10 years before my surgery I was prescribed tramadol to hydrocodone to Percocet for my pain. I never liked the feeling I got from them when I took them. I never got the high some people get, it always made me very sleepy to where I couldn’t function in my every day. So, I chose to live in pain then take a pill each day. Yes, it makes my life hard at times. But I did find something that helps my pain from day to day, and I don’t have to take it every day either now. Medical Cannabis THC is now legal here in Florida, and it has helped a lot of people to where they don’t have to take opioids to control their pain. I have been just starting to take it for my pains only when it very bad.

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Medical Cannabis THC helps with pain due to trauma or surgeries, PTSD, reduces vomiting and nausea in cancer patients. Also, with cancer patients they said it helps stop cancer cells from growing. It helps with weight and helps the immune system. (pg 189). I work for a doctor who prescribes medical cannabis, I get to see firsthand on the help it has given to some that would be on opioids to help, and they are living life now focus and without pain. I do believe it helps better than opioids and it is less addicting than popping a pill.

Work count: 403

Opioid Use, Addiction and Overdoses Essay

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