The Opioid Epidemic and Overdoses
Background and Connections
The opioid epidemic is one that has plagued our country for the past few years now and has become increasingly more concerning for both medical professionals and citizens alike. According to the CDC, in the US in 2022, there were 107,941 drug overdose deaths that occurred. This means that this was a rate of 32.6 deaths per 100,000 citizens which is a huge prevalence across the country (CDC, 2022). Most recent data shows that in South Carolina specifically, there were 2,168 fatal drug overdoses in 2021 with the majority of these caused by opioids (SCDHEC, 2022).
As a future healthcare provider, this is an issue I will most likely encounter at some point in my career. We discussed overdoses often in my PUBH 302: Introduction to Public Health course, and through the discussions I was able to see how healthcare providers play a role in and can help alleviate these issues. In my second key insight, I discussed how I learned the importance of advocating for patients within our healthcare system to make sure they receive the best and most efficient care possible. With the rise in overdoses, life-saving drugs such as Naloxone (also known as Narcan) have grown to become available to the public for use in these situations. However, numerous ethical debates have stemmed from the increased use of these life-saving drugs regarding whether or not the people who overdose deserve to be saved or not. Since learning how to look into ethical considerations from my SPCH 213: Communicating Moral Issues class and experience in a clinical setting, I believe I will be a better advocate for those that struggle with drug abuse and propose solutions to this growing problem.
Recommendations
There are multiple ways to look at solving a problem as large as the opioid and overdose epidemic. Some include looking at it from a policy level, a healthcare level, and an educational level. Solutions are often best when they address the issue on multiple levels in order to both prevent and fix the problem. I would propose policy changes to try and prevent deaths due to overdoses as well as stress interventions to try and prevent overdoses and addiction in general. Education coupled with resources will decrease the prevalence of fatal opioid overdoses.
Implementations
On a state, town, or county level, I believe using policies to implement solutions would reduce the number of deaths due to overdoses. I would propose creating a policy that requires every motor vehicle owner to have 2 doses of Naloxone in their car at all times. By making this a required part of a motor vehicle inspection checklist, it will encourage the average citizen to become a resource for anyone experiencing an overdose. Currently, first responders have doses in their vehicles, but by increasing the prevalence of this low-cost life-saving drug, it could allow for quicker administration and better patient outcomes.
Another initiative to implement to prevent overdoses on a healthcare level would be to provide a dose of Naloxone with every opioid prescription. This would serve as a reminder of the dangers associated with opioid use as well as provide a resource in case, they, or someone they are close to, are addicted to opioids. To evaluate the success of this, there should be a recorded decrease in those who are receiving treatment for drug addiction and a decrease in membership for addiction groups such as AA.
Educational initiatives are also important ways to prevent overdoses and addiction in general. These educational initiatives can be implemented at any stage of life; however, college is a great time to make sure young adults are making the right choices and are aware of resources if they are struggling with addiction. I propose an initiative similar to one USC mandates currently, Alcohol Edu, but for drug-specific information and university-specific resources. This could be implemented at any higher education institution and would be a required online course for students to complete before they are allowed to enroll in classes. By educating impressionable young adults on the risks associated with drug abuse, it would likely deter many from trying gateway drugs and cause them to be more aware of the signs and symptoms of addiction. To make it a more useful program for students, adding in university-specific information about helplines, counseling, and health services will make sure all students are aware of the resources available on campus to help them. Some topics that could be covered include signs of drug abuse, how to help those who suffer from drug abuse, how to act in an overdose situation, and what drugs are the most common to encounter.
Evaluations
To determine the effectiveness of the car-Naloxone mandate, the number and rate of overdose deaths should decrease. If there are instances noted by first responders or medical personnel that describe the use of these Naloxone vehicle treatments, this would also indicate a positive impact of the implementation.
To evaluate the healthcare-based approach, there should be a recorded decrease in those who are receiving treatment for drug addiction and a decrease in membership for addiction groups such as AA. By gathering this data and comparing it pre- and post- intervention, it should indicate that less people are becoming addicted to opioids which would then subsequently also decrease the frequency and prevalence of overdoses.
In order to evaluate the impact of the university-based educational program, surveys should be conducted both before and after the course is completed. By comparing student’s answers regarding resources, risks, signs, and symptoms related to drug abuse and overdoses at the beginning of the course to their answers following the completion of the course, it should show an increase in knowledge surrounding the topic. If students are required to obtain at least an 80% on a final quiz about the topics discussed in the course, it will ensure all students have a level of understanding about the dangers of addiction and how to handle overdoses.
The opioid epidemic is one that has plagued our country for the past few years now and has become increasingly more concerning for both medical professionals and citizens alike. According to the CDC, in the US in 2022, there were 107,941 drug overdose deaths that occurred. This means that this was a rate of 32.6 deaths per 100,000 citizens which is a huge prevalence across the country (CDC, 2022). Most recent data shows that in South Carolina specifically, there were 2,168 fatal drug overdoses in 2021 with the majority of these caused by opioids (SCDHEC, 2022).
As a future healthcare provider, this is an issue I will most likely encounter at some point in my career. We discussed overdoses often in my PUBH 302: Introduction to Public Health course, and through the discussions I was able to see how healthcare providers play a role in and can help alleviate these issues. In my second key insight, I discussed how I learned the importance of advocating for patients within our healthcare system to make sure they receive the best and most efficient care possible. With the rise in overdoses, life-saving drugs such as Naloxone (also known as Narcan) have grown to become available to the public for use in these situations. However, numerous ethical debates have stemmed from the increased use of these life-saving drugs regarding whether or not the people who overdose deserve to be saved or not. Since learning how to look into ethical considerations from my SPCH 213: Communicating Moral Issues class and experience in a clinical setting, I believe I will be a better advocate for those that struggle with drug abuse and propose solutions to this growing problem.
Recommendations
There are multiple ways to look at solving a problem as large as the opioid and overdose epidemic. Some include looking at it from a policy level, a healthcare level, and an educational level. Solutions are often best when they address the issue on multiple levels in order to both prevent and fix the problem. I would propose policy changes to try and prevent deaths due to overdoses as well as stress interventions to try and prevent overdoses and addiction in general. Education coupled with resources will decrease the prevalence of fatal opioid overdoses.
Implementations
On a state, town, or county level, I believe using policies to implement solutions would reduce the number of deaths due to overdoses. I would propose creating a policy that requires every motor vehicle owner to have 2 doses of Naloxone in their car at all times. By making this a required part of a motor vehicle inspection checklist, it will encourage the average citizen to become a resource for anyone experiencing an overdose. Currently, first responders have doses in their vehicles, but by increasing the prevalence of this low-cost life-saving drug, it could allow for quicker administration and better patient outcomes.
Another initiative to implement to prevent overdoses on a healthcare level would be to provide a dose of Naloxone with every opioid prescription. This would serve as a reminder of the dangers associated with opioid use as well as provide a resource in case, they, or someone they are close to, are addicted to opioids. To evaluate the success of this, there should be a recorded decrease in those who are receiving treatment for drug addiction and a decrease in membership for addiction groups such as AA.
Educational initiatives are also important ways to prevent overdoses and addiction in general. These educational initiatives can be implemented at any stage of life; however, college is a great time to make sure young adults are making the right choices and are aware of resources if they are struggling with addiction. I propose an initiative similar to one USC mandates currently, Alcohol Edu, but for drug-specific information and university-specific resources. This could be implemented at any higher education institution and would be a required online course for students to complete before they are allowed to enroll in classes. By educating impressionable young adults on the risks associated with drug abuse, it would likely deter many from trying gateway drugs and cause them to be more aware of the signs and symptoms of addiction. To make it a more useful program for students, adding in university-specific information about helplines, counseling, and health services will make sure all students are aware of the resources available on campus to help them. Some topics that could be covered include signs of drug abuse, how to help those who suffer from drug abuse, how to act in an overdose situation, and what drugs are the most common to encounter.
Evaluations
To determine the effectiveness of the car-Naloxone mandate, the number and rate of overdose deaths should decrease. If there are instances noted by first responders or medical personnel that describe the use of these Naloxone vehicle treatments, this would also indicate a positive impact of the implementation.
To evaluate the healthcare-based approach, there should be a recorded decrease in those who are receiving treatment for drug addiction and a decrease in membership for addiction groups such as AA. By gathering this data and comparing it pre- and post- intervention, it should indicate that less people are becoming addicted to opioids which would then subsequently also decrease the frequency and prevalence of overdoses.
In order to evaluate the impact of the university-based educational program, surveys should be conducted both before and after the course is completed. By comparing student’s answers regarding resources, risks, signs, and symptoms related to drug abuse and overdoses at the beginning of the course to their answers following the completion of the course, it should show an increase in knowledge surrounding the topic. If students are required to obtain at least an 80% on a final quiz about the topics discussed in the course, it will ensure all students have a level of understanding about the dangers of addiction and how to handle overdoses.
References
SCDHEC. Drug overdose deaths in South Carolina continue alarming increase; DHEC and DAODAS share resources, help available to anyone. (2022). https://scdhec.gov/news-releases/drug-overdose-deaths-south-carolina-continue-alarming-increase-dhec-daodas-share#:~:text=Opioids%20continue%20to%20be%20the,2%2C168%20fatal%20overdoses%20in%202021
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, March 21). Products - data briefs - number 491 - March 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db491.htm#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20107%2C941%20drug%20overdose,standard%20population%20(Figure%201).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, March 21). Products - data briefs - number 491 - March 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db491.htm#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20107%2C941%20drug%20overdose,standard%20population%20(Figure%201).