The Issue of Opioid Abuse
The theme of opioid abuse is currently discussed in many countries, including the United States, for many reasons. The number of deaths caused by opioid misuse is one of the most evident factors that attract attention. According to Hart and Ksir (2022), hundreds of Americans die from opioids annually, and more than 50 million adults find this substance the only effective cure to manage their chronic pain. Many professional organizations, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the National Institutes of Health, recommend preventing overdose or prescribing opioid medications carefully. However, about 350,000 Americans use heroin, and approximately 43 million people use marijuana or cocaine (Hart & Ksir, 2022).
Public’s Perception of the Opioid Crisis and Celebrity Deaths
When celebrities die because of an overdose, the public likes to discuss the event and share their prejudiced opinions. The death of an ordinary citizen may remain unnoticed for a long time, but the case of Robert “Bruce” Snodgrass of Anchorage was an exception. Opioids have become a serious challenge for the modern population, and people are directly responsible for this dangerous overuse growth.
Today, it does not take much time for a person to buy opioids for medical or recreational purposes. Fentanyl is a commonly prescribed potent synthetic opioid, which dealers might add to heroin to save money and stretch products (Hart & Ksir, 2022). This substance was approved as an effective method to treat chronic and severe pain (Hart & Ksir, 2022). Doctors must check if the patient is opioid-tolerant to apply fentanyl for strengthening surgical anesthesia or relieve pain in postoperative patients. Being equipped with this knowledge and professional recommendations, many people do not know that the use of fentanyl can be fatal, even in small doses.
Event Summary
The story of Sandy Snodgrass from Anchorage, Alaska, attracted the attention of the American government, leading to a new proposal in the House. Her 22-year-old son, Robert “Bruce” Snodgrass, died in October 2021 after taking a drug (Maxwell, 2022). The mother could not believe the medical examiner who reported his death as an outcome of an opioid overdose.
Initially, there were no intentions to relate this case to something extraordinary. The boy had a history of drug abuse (meth) and took alcohol. The mother explained it as his predisposition to addiction because his father and grandfather were addicted and died (Maxwell, 2022).
However, Sandy admitted that her son joined a treatment program and was sober and clean for some time. His relapse was unpredictable, and no one could even guess it would be his last one. Bruce was fond of the wilderness and enjoyed hiking, fishing, and camping (Maxwell, 2022). One day, he went for a ride and did not come back; in two days, his body was found (Maxwell, 2022). The reason was a fentanyl overdose that stopped his heart forever.
Event Reflection
This event was another reminder about the danger of opioids and the inability to control everything in this life. Some people are ready to make multiple attempts to quit drugs and return to their routine affairs, but relapses are not easy to predict. It is impossible to ensure that opioid overdose can be solved one day, but there is hope that the government and other influential stakeholders recognize the threats of fentanyl. The Snodgrass case is not the only one in American history, but it may serve as a good reason to increase education in schools about drug abuse and treatment options that are safe and effective. This story has a bad ending to show how one fentanyl-taken mistake cost the boy’s life.
References
Hart, C., & Ksir, C. (2022). Drugs, society, and human behavior (18th ed.). McGraw Hill.
Maxwell, L. (2022). Anchorage mom knows the heartache of fentanyl death. Alaska’s News Source. Web.