The term “opioid crisis” is used to refer to the sharp rise in the number of Americans addicted to opioids in the 2010s. It started with the launch of new painkiller drugs in the 1990s that, despite pharmaceutical companies’ claims, proved to be highly addictive, leading to fast-growing abuse and addiction rates among patients. With these drugs being approved for medical use, their side-effects, although being similar to that of illegal drugs, have often been underestimated. Lack of education and the low level of public awareness, together with the negligence of pharmaceutical companies and health care providers, have facilitated the fast growth of abuse and addiction rates.
I chose this topic for my research because I think it is an extremely important problem, and I can relate to it. I have lost two friends and a grandbaby from my son’s girlfriend to heroin overdose. I think that drug addiction is a very serious public health issue that requires collaborative efforts of the government, pharmaceutical companies, local communities, and the general public. In my paper, I am going to address the importance of education about the risks and dangers of substance abuse and analyze the strategies that can be implemented to handle the opioid crisis.
Current Challenges in Educational Research for Opioid Abuse Prevention
The article draws statistical evidence to illustrate that opioid usage is a major international health problem and suggests educational efforts that should be taken to address it. The first is the education of patients and their family members on safe usage, storage, and disposal of opioids. Such education programs should be developed on the basis of behavioral theories, including the social cognitive theory, the theory of planned behavior, and the multi-theory model. The second suggested initiative involves the measures aimed at preventing opioid overdose, including training in overdose management for patients and their family members and providing them with naloxone kits. The third initiative is harm reduction strategies, particularly the development of medical policies regarding opioid usage, restricting them only for serious pain-related problems. As a large number of patients are not consuming opioids as prescribed, or use them without prescription, restriction measures can help to reduce the number of addicts. The education of medical professionals about rational opioid prescription and organization of public health campaigns are other options that can be considered when developing the strategy of opioid abuse prevention.
The article is of particular interest to this study because it includes comprehensive statistical data and provides a well-thought-out harm reduction strategy. It gives details of the government efforts that has already been implemented, as well as suggests new ways of addressing the problem. The article can be used to support and further develop the idea of the importance of education in prescription drug abuse prevention.
Education Is Key in Fighting Prescription Drug Abuse
The article claims that one of the primary causes of prescription drug abuse is the lack of education about their dangers both among patients and health professionals. While most people realize that illegal drugs cause addiction, there is a common misperception that prescription drugs are less harmful when misused. Physicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists rarely inform patients about the risks of the medications they prescribe or distribute and fail to recognize the signs of substance abuse in their patients. The article suggests a range of measures to be introduced on three levels: health care provider education, parent, youth, and patient education, and research and development. Healthcare initiatives involve training practitioners on the proper prescription of opioids and addressing the signs of dependence, development of educational materials, introduction of education programs in medical schools, and development of clinical guidelines for opioid prescription. The proposed measures also include the development of public education campaigns, particularly targeted at patients, and research initiatives on drug abuse and the development of new treatments for pain that do not lead to addiction.
The article is distinguished from other work on the subject because it provides a comprehensive strategy of addressing the issue and elaborates on each proposed solution. It stresses out the role of education and offers a range of measures that can be introduced on three levels. It can be used to develop a deeper understanding of educational options available to the government, educational institutions, and health care organizations.
Federal Action Plan to Fight Prescription Drug Abuse Released
The article explores the federal strategy of addressing prescription drug abuse launched in 2011. It establishes a national framework for reducing opioid abuse by supporting state-based prescription drug monitoring programs, development of patient education strategies, and educating the medical communities about proper prescribing practices. The plan aims to reduce the death toll caused by the abuse and misuse of prescription drugs by encouraging collaborative efforts of federal health officials, health care companies, and medical communities.
The article provides a basic understanding of the federal government’s approach to the issue, citing the quotations of experts and government officials. It can be used as the basis for the research and development of further local and state initiatives. It aligns with other proposed strategies in its acknowledgment of the importance of education in drug abuse prevention, particularly in the case of prescription drug abuse.
Development of a Community Readiness Survey for Coalitions to Address Prescription Opioid Misuse
The article explores the role of local anti-drug coalitions in addressing the issue of prescription drug abuse. Based on interviews with 70 participants, the research suggests that coalitions provide an effective means of handling the issue within communities. They have a profound understanding of local needs, the knowledge of drug abuse prevention resources, and the power of influence. In order to develop an effective community-specific education and prevention strategy, a deep understanding of local issues is required. Educational interventions are most effective in communities that are interested in change, and local coalitions can provide information on where and how to intervene. Coalitions conduct surveys and organize public education campaigns to raise the level of awareness and develop interventions that are specific to a particular community.
The article provides a fresh approach to the problem by pointing out the importance of local initiatives. As opposed to most strategies of drug abuse prevention that focus on federal efforts, Trudeau emphasizes the role of communities in handling the issue of drug abuse. The results of the anti-drug survey discussed in the article give a comprehensive picture of challenges that government initiatives can face when implemented on the local level.
Works Cited
“Current Challenges in Educational Research for Opioid Abuse Prevention.” Journal of Alcohol & Drug Education, vol. 61, no. 1, 2017. Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints, Web.
Haerens, Margaret, and Lynn M. Zott, editors. “Education Is Key in Fighting Prescription Drug Abuse.” Prescription Drug Abuse, Greenhaven Press, 2013. Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints, Web.
Johnson, Teddi Dineley. “Federal Action Plan to Fight Prescription Drug Abuse Released.” The Nation’s Health, vol. 41, no. 5, 2011. Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints, Web.
Trudeau, Kimberly. “Development of a Community Readiness Survey for Coalitions to Address Prescription Opioid Misuse.” Journal of Alcohol & Drug Education, vol. 59, no. 3, 2015. Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints, Web.