Opioid Research Paper

Opioid addiction is so prevalent in the healthcare system because of the countless number of hospital patients being treated for chronic pain. While opioid analgesics have beneficial painkilling properties, they also yield detrimental dependence and addiction. There is a legitimate need for the health care system to provide powerful medications because prolonged pain limits activities of daily living, work productivity, quality of life, etc. (Taylor, 2015). Patients need to receive appropriate pain treatment, however, opioids need to be prescribed after careful consideration of the benefits and risks.

In the last two decades, opioid addiction started affecting more and more Americans. But who is at fault for this epidemic? The pharmaceutical companies. They make and distribute their drugs to doctors and pharmacies and are making billions off the American worker’s dollar. All while, lying to doctors about these miracle drugs effectiveness and advocating against protective measures for the drugs.

Last year there were over 64,000 reported opioid-related deaths in the United States – making it the leading cause of accidental death in people under the age of 50 in this country (Katz). Opioids, also referred to as painkillers, have become a growing problem over the past two decades particularly in rural communities all across the country where the death rates are higher per capita compared to the death rate in cities (“America’s Opioid Epidemic is Worsening”). These narcotics, such as codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, morphine and oxycodone are extremely addictive and, as a result, this silent killer has quadrupled the overdose death toll since 1999

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).

Weeks before my 12th birthday, I went to an emergency center thinking that I had an ear infection. Sitting in a hospital bed, I recall panicking, as I realized I could not move my legs. 2 years and a vast multitude of tests later, doctors were able to determine that I have an autonomic nervous system condition called Dysautonomia. Now, at 19 years of age, my doctor has just signed the paperwork so that I can become a medical marijuana card holder. After years of dealing with the dilemma that is prescription opioids, I have found myself opting for medical marijuana instead, and for good reason. Without a doubt, medical marijuana is a better alternative to prescription opioids in terms of overdoses, negative side effects, and psychoactive properties.

When opioids are used chronically, tolerance and dependence can occur and the side effects differ depending on the substance, as does the abuse potential (Addiction.com, 2011) (Steven A. Adelman, William J. Meehan, 2010). Combining or improper use of opioid medication with other prescription or over the counter medication could be fatal (CAMH, 2010) (Canada, 2009).

Milwaukee is currently facing an epidemic. This epidemic is the usage of opioids. Every year, the death toll grows from opioids usage. Opioid overdoses are America's leading killer. People are becoming more and more addicted to them and it is causing the user to overdose on the drugs. There are many types of opioids with different usages. This causes short and long term effects which can later lead the body to experience withdrawal from the drugs.

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.

Does anyone you know and or love currently struggle with opioid addiction? Have you witnessed the loss of a life due to opioid addiction? Opioid addiction is a major issue we are all facing the United States either directly or indirectly. The opioid epidemic has continued to grow yearly, and shows no real solutions in the trend of it slowing down or it coming to an end. Doctors are well aware of this information and are working to reduce the number of opioid abuse cases created at the source. There are options available to addicts including but not limited to inpatient rehabilitation programs, detoxification programs/facilities, and outpatient counseling support. These options cost a significant amount of money, unaffordable to most addicts,

The effects of opioid overdose are traumatic, devastating, and preventable. It is estimated that there are 128,000 people addicted to opioids in New Jersey (Stirling, 2015). Furthermore, many of those addicted to the drug heroin became so after being prescribed narcotic pain killers. This is because when the prescription runs out the addiction is still in place. Those addicted can find pills being sold illegally but they can cost up to 30 dollars a pill. Heroin, costing only 5 dollars a bag according to law enforcement officials, is a much better deal (Stirling, 2015).

Today there are many different drugs in circulation. Those drugs are not always used properly or legally. Opioids present a contradiction in legal history along with pharmaceutical history. Opioids have a long history, starting with the creation of heroin, as a cough suppressant. Since then the federal government and FDA have stepped in to remove heroin from the public and come up with new medicines that seem to mimic the effect of heroin but be safe enough to sell on a public scale. Unfortunately even as medicines are made for public use, these medications are still proven to be prone to addiction and even overdose. These FDA approved opioids are gateway drugs to heroin. There is a pattern among those

The people of Maine are in trouble. We are losing our citizens to opioid abuse at an alarming rate. We have, thus far, been paralyzed to do anything about treating the disease that’s running rampant through our communities, families, and homes. The overprescribing of prescription opiates in the 1990s and 2000s, driven by the profit margins of the multinational companies getting rich on the backs of those in chronic pain, has led to an unprecedented amount of addiction, crime, and death amongst Maine’s people. The strict rules, laws, and changes put in place to curb the prescription and abuse of opioids in the state of Maine has exacerbated an already out of control problem. They have contributed not to the desired lowering of

Opioids are prescription drugs that deal with reducing pain when taken. There are various types of prescription drugs that can classify as opioids such as morphine, codeine, hydrocodone, or Demerol, to name a few. The drugs originally are synthesized and derived from the opium poppy, Physicians will prescribe this medication as a painkiller, but many others turned to purer doses of these medications and started turning to more potent drugs like heroin or Percocet. The one thing that these brand name drugs have in common is that they contain opium, an extremely addictive narcotic drug. In many cases, many patients receiving pain killing medication from doctors become dependent on the drug, leading them to use it recreationally instead

To minimize harming patients and to optimize the quality of life for people that are taking opioids, doctors should consider the following strategies; symptomatic management of adverse effects, altering the route of administration, opioid rotation, and dose reduction. Symptomatic management entails treating opioid-induced side effects with a medication that targets that specific symptom. Altering the route of administration might include a switch to a medication that can be administered transdermally, such as fentanyl. Opioid rotation is when you switch out one opioid for another and it’s normally done to improve pain control and/or reduce any adverse effects. Dose reduction is exactly what it says, reducing the dose to minimize drowsiness,

The misuse of and dependence to opioid drugs such as the frequently prescribed oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, and the illegal drug heroin is a worldwide crisis that impacts the societal well-being, health, and economy of nearly every population. The wake of the recently named epidemic can be felt by family members, health care professionals, communities, and policy makers around the world. Taking the lead in causes of accidental deaths in the United States, the fatalities resulting from opioid overdose have quadrupled since the early 2000’s. Research has indicated a causal link between prescription opioid abuse and increased rates of heroin usage