Opiate Addiction: A Case Study

If you have been working in EMS for longer than a week you will probably already know the epidemic that America is facing. The epidemic that I am referring to has no discrimination and anyone can fall victim to it. If it hasn't already destroyed your family in some way then you are one of the lucky few.

The purpose of this briefing memo is to provide recommendations to Council of City ABC on certain aspects it may or may not include in its zoning provisions with regard to methadone clinics and dispensaries. In the following sections I will provide my input on the provisions laid out by council.

In 2004, Carol Ward confronted a Manitoba doctor with a photo of her daughter, Lisa Erickson, injecting drugs. She pleaded with the doctor to stop prescribing morphine to her daughter because her daughter was suffering from a drug addiction and did not need opioids. Her daughter died of an overdose at age 32. According to the new data from Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) and provincial regulatory agencies suggest physicians rarely face serious discipline in opioid-related cases, however, many doctors worried since investigations and monitoring has increased (Glauser, 2017). The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario released information that about 84 doctors flagged by the ministry of health for prescribing opioids in

Today I visited a treatment facility in Dayton OH. On James H Mcgee Blvd. This is a methadone based facility that has more than 800 clients currently receiving a daily regime of methadone; this is an agonist substance used in the treatment of opiate addiction. My interview today is with Lakisha Russell, a Licensed Social Worker: she also carries a MHT degree and a LCDC III. Furthermore acquiring a portion of this education at Sinclair.

UCF’s College of Medicine was recently recognized by the White House as one of 60 medical schools across the country to pledge to teach students about the dangers of prescribing opioids to patients for pain. The pledge follows President Obama’s public-private efforts to fight the nations epidemic of prescription opioid and heroin abuse, according to a press release from UCF.

Patient states that he was on unit in April of this year. Patient states that after discharge he tried to get into a program (Salvation Army in Manhatten), but there were no beds available. Patient reports that he went back to his same enviromemtn, Jersey City and started drinking and using heroin. Patient said that he had no health insurance so he was unable to fill his prescription. Patient reports that he applied for Medicaid and is currently waiting to see if he is going to be approved. Patient stated that he would like to go to Meadowview in Seacucus. Patient states that he reason why he uses is to self-medicate because he has no insurance. Patient stated that he would like to get into long-term rehab that does not require him

Opiate addiction has started to become an epidemic in northeastern Indiana, affecting the lives of about 39,000 people in Allen County alone.

Objectives/ Progress: As the Pt. has participate in the AMS Program, he has discontinue his opiates use and his UDS results indicate no evidence of ongoing abuse. Pt. demonstrated treatment maturity and appropriate control of emotions but he has never earned take home privileges because he likes to smoke marijuana and he is self-medicating with the drug as a way to battle depression and anxiety. Pt. does not want to discontinue his marijuana use. Pt. has refused to find and obtain mental health services during previous tx quarters. Patient has experienced treatment regression due to failing to attend November monthly counseling session and receiving an AMS Notice of Counseling Non-Compliance letter. Patient reported daily as instructed by AMS staff and AMS Doctor to receive prescribed daily maintenance medication. Primary Counselor will encourage Pt. to reflect on the negative aspects of his bad habit and the positives associated with giving marijuana up (or reducing). Counselor will be aware that Pt. may doubt that the long-term benefits associated with

Since their development, Opiate painkillers have proved invaluable in the healthcare industry. The need for analgesia has been prevalent since the beginning of time itself and opium has been used as early as Ancient China and fought over in wars such as the Opium Wars. More modernly, this substance has been synthesized for potency and purity in achieving the ultimate pain reliever. It exists in drugs today such as OxyContin, Norco, Percocet, morphine, Dilaudid, Opana, and Demerol. In addition to relieving pain, these medications also produce euphoria and bind to opiate receptors in the brain which contribute to the development of forming an addiction. Opiate Addiction only grows as an issue in the United States due to its availability and lack of knowledge regarding addiction on behalf of patients receiving pain medication. This is why finding an effective cure or treatment to opiate addiction is imperative. Individual treatments for opiate addiction such as replacement therapy, rehabilitation, and support groups are flawed by themselves, however, in combination provide the most effective treatment for opiate addiction.

In my opinion use of opioids for a short term could have no pain effect. However, once the patient starts taking it over and over again, it becomes difficult for the dose to be effective. Furthermore, when a person uses opioids, they develop tolerance for it. According to a survey by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 50.5% people misuse opioids from friends and relatives, while around 22.1% of people are prescribed by their doctor. I also found that opioids has a higher dependence and this could lead someone to start with opioids and then getting used to the harder drugs like heroine. Around 44 people die everyday due to overdose. Overall, the no pain effect depends on the amount of dosage the person is

Opioids blind the pain of the injury but does not aid in healing the injury.

Addressing the pain needs of the patient is challenging if they are already opioid tolerant (Hilliard 11-12) . The doctors that used opioid have had overdoses in the emergency room from ages 15 to 85, from all kinds of backgrounds, and from race, this drug takes no prisoners (2063). There are ways to avoid an opioid overdose  from happening like having a pain specialist on call or in the hospital (Volkow 2063). To stop the opioid overdose epidemic doctors learned how to tell real pain from false pain. Opioid is a  drug that doctors are careful with when giving it to patients (Volkow 2063). In the 1970's scientist figured out that drug  like opioid mimic a natural brain chemical called enkephalins ("Drug Dependence"...n.pag.). Doctors treat

There is extensive educational programing being offered around the world, and within the education classes they encourage all health care facility to attend as well as their patients who are coping with chronic pain controlled by the opioid medication. Most reported cases of substance abuse and addiction are associated with opioids and are linked to an individual’s behavior. Another method that is used to help the patient with opioid addiction and abuse is behavioral therapy. During the therapy there is close monitoring and cognitive behavioral substance misuse counseling make the chances of overall compliance greater.

John D. was referred to outpatient therapy for substances abuse counseling by his family member. John was a step down patient from residential treatment and has complete Partial Hospitalization as well. John has past treatment episode and states that this is his fifty-four treatment episode. John reports that he has several periods of abstinence three years and then four at another time. He reports having a high school diploma and Associates Degree. John report no past or present legal problems. He also reports no medical problems past or present. John report he is taking psychotropic medication. John states and has from time to time however does not really like to.

How do we keep people from abusing he use marijuana if legalized? Addiction is important enough to take seriously. Every patient should understand the risks of marijuana addiction. Mandatory counseling for patients should come from physicians. Dispensaries should be responsible for counseling patients also (Casarett, 2016). Public health education programs should be available nationally. Depending on physicians and dispensaries is not enough to educate everyone on addiction. It would also help to have public health messaging about the risks of dependence. The messages should be like those that we are used to receiving for alcohol and tobacco products. Family members should be aware of the risks just as patients (Casarett,