Despite the opioid crisis that began in the late 1990s, there are still several cases of opiate addiction. The doctors who prescribed the drugs abused their authority to distribute painkillers without taking into account the potential side effects and were fascinated by their immediate results. Consequently, those who use them have also had adverse effects from opioids up to death. Since the emergence of the opioid problem over the past few decades, the number of opioid overdose cases has decreased dramatically. The outbreak may have caused fear in people, which subsided, and drug use was more carefully controlled.
Prescribing doctors abused opioids, which caused addiction in patients. Thus, the cultural shift in opioid use is most pronounced in the United States. In other words, pain tolerance among US citizens is most noticeable in comparison with other countries (Loh et al., 2019). Consequently, doctors prescribe opiates to quench the pain in their patients, which leads to harmful consequences.
According to the media, consumer and government regulations on the use of opiates are negligent. Opioids are undoubtedly beneficial, but users should be aware of the potential dangers if they are not taken properly. On the contrary, doctors should have monitored and properly prescribed these medications because they are more aware that overdose can lead to death (Mercadante et al., 2019). Doctors do not prescribe these drugs recklessly and carelessly, even if there is a tremendous demand for opiates to quench pain.
New medical regulations are having an impact on the use of painkillers. Working in the fight against the opioid crisis allows doctors and scientists to develop a more advanced type of painkillers without side effects. Consequently, the culture of opiate use should become less pronounced and required in consumption. To prevent deaths, experts should conduct research and clinical trials to develop reliable, safe, and non-addictive drugs to treat chronic pain. New drugs should also be available since most users use inexpensive, fast-acting drugs. Supportive therapy can also be provided to those diagnosed with opioid use.
Reference
Loh, F. E., & Herzig, S. J. (2019). Pain in the United States: Time for a Culture Shift in
Expectations, Messaging, and Management. Journal of Hospital Medicine, 14(12), 787.
Mercadante, S., Arcuri, E., & Santoni, A. (2019). Opioid-Induced tolerance and hyperalgesia. CNS Drugs, 33(10), 943-955.