Opioid Misuse and Abuse

Opioid Misuse and Abuse

1. Discuss the public health impact of opioid misuse and abuse, including costs related to healthcare and criminal justice costs

To begin with, opioid misuse and abuse is a major cause of death in America. On this note, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) argues that around 130 individuals die each day in America as a result of overdosing in opioids (Boté, 2019). The massive deaths associated with opioid misuse and abuse has resulted in a significant decrease in life expectancy. For instance, the CDC states that life expectancy in American has been on a decreasing trend in the last three years (Boté, 2019). At the same time, misuse and abuse of opioids is associated with an increase in transmissions of blood-borne infections (Boté, 2019). This problem can be attributed to the sharing of drug injection equipment by individuals misusing or abusing opioids. Besides, some children have been affected by the opioid pandemic. On this note, data reveals that the prevalence of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has surged by 433% between 2004 and 2014 (Boté, 2019). At the same time, the opioid crisis is worsening the current mental health plague facing the country. For instance, studies have revealed that individuals suffering from opioid abuse are 50% more likely to have suffered from major depressive disorder in the past (Boté, 2019). As such, opioid misuse and abuse has severe effects on the mental and physical health of individuals, regardless of their age. Also, opioid misuse results in increased hospitalization (Boté, 2019). Increased hospitalization raises the costs of healthcare in the country.

According to Florence, Luo, Xu, and Zhou (2016), criminal justice costs associated with opioid misuse and abuse can be categorized into four groups, which are correctional fatalities, police protection, property loss as a result of crimes, and correctional facilities. For instance, some people who are abusing opioids may turn to crimes as they seek to feed their addiction. These individuals end up being incarcerated, increasing criminal justice costs.

2. Discuss interventions at the individual and community levels and how they may decrease prescription drug abuse in a population.

Individuals should work together to identify the risk and protective factors in their communities as far as drug abuse is concerned (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, U.S Department of Health and Human Services, and Office of the Surgeon General, 2016). Also, targeted programs implemented at the individual and family levels can help in reducing the effects of risk factors. For example, family members are better positioned to identify that one of them has recently being prescribed opioid-based medications, which means that he or she has a higher likelihood of developing an addiction for these drugs. At the same time, communities and individuals can be educated on ways of identifying a person who is facing an increased risk of abusing prescription drugs. Also, members of the community can agree with local clinics and healthcare providers that the latter will not prescribe certain medications without involving members of the families of their patients.

3. Discuss ways to reduce inappropriate prescribing practices

One of the ways of reducing inappropriate prescribing practice entails the adoption of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs). PDMPs are tools that guide providers on how to make informed decisions pertaining to prescribing and dispensing drugs depending on the patient’s needs and risks of addiction (Boté, 2019). At the same time, reducing inappropriate prescribing practices can be attained through the restriction/regulations of conditions under which approved drugs can be legally accessed (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2017). This initiative prevents the illegal distribution of the approved drugs. The other strategy entails regulating the addiction capacity of opioids-based drugs. At the same time, the Drug Enforcement Agency and other organizations have a drug take-back program (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2017). This program aims at reducing the supply of opioid-based medications.

4. Search for a current clinical guideline related to pain management and discuss. Identify the guideline and discuss its attributes and contributions to pain management.

One of the clinical guidelines related to pain management is titled “CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain” and was published in 2016 (Boté, 2019). The guideline focuses on three areas which are “When to initiate or continue opioid therapy for treatment of chronic pain, selection of opioids, dosage, duration, follow-up and discontinuation of opioid therapy, and assessment of risk and addressing harm from opioid abuse” (Boté, 2019, p 6. ). The guideline’s goal is to fill the gap that may exist when it comes to opioid prescribing training among primary care providers. Also, the guideline aims at promoting more effective and safer methods for chronic pain management outside of the end of life and palliative care and treatment of active cancer patients.

References

Boté, S. H. (2019). US opioid epidemic: Impact on public health and review of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs). Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 11(2).

Florence, C., Luo, F., Xu, L., & Zhou, C. (2016). The economic burden of prescription opioid overdose, abuse and dependence in the United States, 2013. Medical Care, 54(10), 901.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2017). Pain management and the opioid epidemic: balancing societal and individual benefits and risks of prescription opioid use. National Academies Press.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, U.S Department of Health and Human Services, and Office of the Surgeon General. (2016). Facing addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. U.S Department of Health and Human Services. Web. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424850/