Causes Of Opioid Crisis In Vancouver

Tennessee is one of the states hit hardest by the nation’s opioid epidemic which began about 20 years ago and had a stark increase since 2009, now reaching unprecedented levels across the county with a 200% increase in the rate of deaths involving opioids (Rudd, Aleshire, Zibbell, & Gladden, 2016; Fletcher, 2016). In Tennessee specifically, it is estimated that about 1 in 6 abuse opioids; the CDC estimates that for every one person who dies from an opioid overdose in Tennessee there are 851 others in the state who are in various stages of their abuse, misuse, and treatment; and the most recent statistics show that opioid overdoses alone make up about 7.7% of deaths in Tennessee, making them responsible for more deaths than car accidents in the state (Botticelli, 2016; Rudd, Aleshire, Zibbell, & Gladden, 2016; Fletcher, 2016; ONDCP, 2016; Thompson, 2016).

Now because heroin is illegal, this can lead heroin addicts to look for cheap and legal alternatives, called opioids. Opioids can be easily obtained by going to the doctor’s office and be given a doctor’s note stating you need the medicine to relieve the pain. In the Opioid crisis we see many white americans struggle with either heroin or opioids and many wonder why it tends to be more known in the suburban communities rather than the stereotypical urban communities. Some conclude that it was actually due to the distribution of drugs in the urban communities to few members of the suburban community. Others have theorized that white americans are creating the drugs themselves and yet playing along with the stereotype of blacks or mexicans

The opioid crisis is not just now becoming an issue, but recent numbers of overdoses are raising even more concern and attention. The issue is with how citizens deal with the crisis because opioids are finding their way into the wrong hands. The crisis is so severe that “everyday more than 90 people die overdosing on opioids” (“Opioids”). That number will only grow if nothing is done to stop people from overdosing. The entire opioid crisis started from patients misusing opioid medicines. In the year 2015 alone “33,000 Americans died from opioid overdose” (“Opioid”). So many Americans fall victim to opioids and they can become extremely addicting. Once a patient's body is exposed to opium, the body will then adjust to needin opium by the larger quantity and patients will soon take more and more causing an overdose. Unfortunately, synthetic drugs are on the rise (Katz). Fentanyl is a prime example of a synthetic drug that is taking over America by storm. It can be mass produced in a

Opioid drugs are some of the most widespread pain medications that we have in this country; indeed, the fact is that opioid analgesic prescriptions have increased by over 300% from 1999 to 2010 (Mitch 989). Consequently, the number of deaths from overdose increased from 4000 to 16,600 a year in the same time frame (Mitch 989). This fact becomes even more frightening when you think about today; the annual number of fatal drug overdoses in the Unites States now surpasses that of motor vehicle deaths (Alexander 1865). Even worse, overdose deaths caused by opioids specifically exceed those attributed to both cocaine and heroin combined (Alexander 1865).

Canada is in the mist of opioid overdose. On a per-capita bases Canada is second only to the US in opioid consumption and overdose. No fewer than 2480 people died from opioid overdoses in 2016 across Canada. Among the hardest hit provinces are British Colombia, Alberta, and Ontario. British Columbia reported close to 800 overdose fatalities between January and June of this year, a jump of nearly 100 percent over the same period last year. In Alberta over 100 deaths were attributed to fentanyl overdose between January and March of this year. Similar trends are seen across the country.

Many people may not realize this but multiple states, including Michigan, are facing an epidemic. It is not a disease, however, it is a heroin epidemic. In a country where addictive opioid pain-killer prescriptions are handed out like candy, it not surprising heroin, also known as smack or thunder, has become a serious problem. The current heroin epidemic Michigan is facing, as are dozens of other states, has spiraled out of control in recent years. In Michigan, some of the areas hit hardest by this drug are in the southern portion of the state, like Wayne, Oakland, and Monroe Counties. The connection between painkillers and heroin may not be clear, but this is because both are classified as opioid drugs, and therefore cause many of the same positive and negative side effects. As a country, we are currently the largest consumer of opioids in the world; almost the entire world supply of hydrocodone (the opioid in Vicodin) and 81% of the world’s oxycodone (in Percocet and OxyContin) is used by the United States (Volkow). Along with consuming most of the world’s most common opioids, we have gone from 76 million of these prescriptions in 1991 to 207 million in 2013 – constantly increasing except for a small decrease starting in 2012 (Volkow). This widespread use has caused numerous consequences from increasing emergency room visits – for both painkillers and heroin – to sky-rocking overdose cases all over the country (Volkow). Michigan, unfortunately, currently has one of the

The opioid problem is big. The fact that multiple parties (FDA, Pharmacies, Doctors) are involved make the problem even more complex and difficult to fix. One of the best ways to begin helping the opioid crisis is within the FDA. The different types of opioids need to be re-tested to evaluate their necessity within our healthcare system. Too many readily available opioids are not beneficial. Next are doctors need to be taught to stand up again big pharmaceutical companies. These companies have their priority in profit, not patient care. Hopefully by implementing these factors, the opioid crisis can become a problem of the past.

Drug abuse has always been a delicate subject as it deals with the health, safety, and the well-being of not only the users, but also everyone they come into contact with. Cities across Canada are faced with a rising number of drug abusers, and therefore increased cases of infectious diseases and overdoses by these users. Vancouver housed the first injection site in Canada; its purpose to offer sterile syringes as well as other equipment to addicts, medical care in the event of an overdose or other emergency, as well as counseling and referrals to drug rehabilitation programs. This was a great step towards ensuring the safety and security of the public; drug users are given access to safe, one-use syringes and are provided with clean environment,

The United States currently faces an unprecedented epidemic of opioid addiction. This includes painkillers, heroin, and other drugs made from the same base chemical. In the couple of years, approximately one out of twenty Americans reported misuse or abuse of prescriptions painkillers. Heroin abuse and overdoses are on the rise and are the leading cause of injury deaths, surpassing car accidents and gun shots. The current problem differs from the opioid addiction outbreaks of the past in that it is also predominant in the middle and affluent classes. Ultimately, anyone can be fighting a battle with addiction and it is important for family members and loved ones to know the signs. The cause for this epidemic is that the current spike of opioid abuse can be traced to two decades of increased prescription rates for painkillers by well-meaning physicians.

Here in America, there is an ongoing tragedy ceaselessly unfolding right before our eyes. Beyond the calamities of gun violence, the loss of innocent lives through ruthless crimes and deadly motor vehicle accidents, there is a crisis occurring in the very homes of many Americans. There is a proceeding addiction to the pill bottles hidden behind bathroom mirrors, needles poking through the surface of fragile skin to get a “fix”, and prescriptions being written left and right with the intention to help but the potential to kill. Here in America, over 115 people die every single day from overdosing on opioids and this is a reality that has been nothing short of deadly since as early as 1990.

After reviewing several online articles, the issue of fentanyl continues to come to the forefront for the community of Abbotsford. In creating a problem-oriented policing plan, I will be using the SARA model. Fentanyl is a strong opioid prescribed drug used to treat patients with severe pain and to cope with the pain of surgery. Fentanyl makes the neurotransmitters of the user a sensation of rewards. Fentanyl is a cheap drug which is easily accessible. Fentanyl is a hundred times more toxic than morphine. Just two milligrams of fentanyl can lead to an overdose. Scanning: So far in 2017 Abbotsford has 29 deaths caused by overdosing on fentanyl alone. In 2016, there was a total of 922 fentanyl deaths in British Columbia (CBC

In looking into the opioid epidemic, Joe Rannazzisi, the head of the Office of Diversion Control in the DEA, started to notice a trend of distributors shipping large amounts of opioids to midsize to small pharmacies around the country. Based on the alarming consequences of pushing opioids in these communities, Rannazzisi decided to step in and freeze the distribution to these pharmacies. In addition, he decided to investigate them. The DEA has a broad authority to stop opioids being pumped into communities based on an imminent threat to the community. This all changed when lobbyists for the big pharmacies got legislation through Congress that essentially stopped the DEA from freezing the distribution of opioids to these communities. This legislation

Studies done in recent years have shown a significant decline in the average life expectancy in the United States. Seeing as this is the first time this has occurred since the Vietnam War, there is significant concern regarding this issue. Initial investigation shows a possible link between this crisis and the current struggle with opioid overuse and dependency. What is the depth of this connection? Is it causal or merely correlative?

As a teen I have seen multiple teens recklessness and their parents trying their hardest to prevent their son and or daughter from using drugs, but their efforts keep failing. Everyday a mother wakes up to find her teenager deceased, everyday I live with void of not having my best friend due to her overdose. Each day that passes marks another day farther from the last time I got to see her. President Donald Trump early in his term issued a national emergency, the opioid crisis. The opioid crisis affects children as young as coming into this world and adults at any age. Google defines an opioid as “ an opium like compound that binds to one or more of the three opioid receptors of the body.” (Google) Despite the government and parent involvement

Guelph is a city with a population of 118,000 (City of Guelph, 2010) with agriculture and considered a safe city. But, what people don’t know is that Guelph is on the raise of having a community addicted to prescription pain killers, one in particular, Oxycodone. Narcotic pain relievers; Oxycodone, Morphine, and Dilaudid are surfacing on Guelph streets fast and Guelph police are trying to do everything they can to stop these drugs from destroying the streets of Guelph. “Approximately $70, 000 in drugs and cash has been seized as part of an ongoing effort to crack-down on the trafficking of prescription drugs in Guelph”(Project Scripts, 2010). This is a good sign that Guelph police are taking steps towards a safer city, and having special