Substance Abuse And Mental Health Association

Opioid use in the US has increased over the years, and this has led to an increase in substance abuse. Substance abuse is not only associated with use of illicit drugs but also prescription drugs. In 2015, of the 20.5 million reported cases of substance abuse, 2 million had an abuse disorder related to prescription pain relievers and 591,000 associated with heroin.1 The increase in substance abuse disorder has led to an increase in opioid related death. In 2015 drug overdose was the leading cause of accidental death in the US with 52, 404 lethal drug overdoses.2

Opioids are taking over the United States with its addictive composition, once patients are take opioids there is no escaping. The drug directed from opium which is obtained from a plant (Katz). Opioids are most commonly found in prescription pill from making underground sales more common. Since opioids are derived from a plant this makes the reality of home grown drugs more of an issue. American citizens overdosing on opioids is what is sparking the crisis because opioid “overdoses killed more people last year than guns or car accidents” (Katz). Opioids are extremely addictive and that is why so many citizens overdose on these types of drugs. After patients become hooked on opioids their body constantly is needing more and more opium to escape they pain they think they are enduring. The overdosing of Americans is not a small percentage of the population either, it is estimated that “over two million people in America have problem with opioids” proving this growing issue is an ongoing crisis (Katz). The United States government needs to take action immediately to the opioid crisis because doctors are overprescribing patients because they seemingly overreact to pain, and opioids are one of the most addictive drug types in the world.

According to the Diagnostic Statistic Manual 5 (DSM-5) substance use disorder is when the individual has a dependency on alcohol or drug, followed by penetrating craving and antisocial behavior to acquire the substance. The terms substance abuse and substance dependence refer to substance use disorder, which has been separated into three classifications as follows

In Nolan and Amico’s article, “How Bad is the Opioid Epidemic?” they argue the opioid epidemic has become the worst drug crisis in American history. Heroin and other opioids overdose kill more than 47,055 people a year. Deaths caused from drug overdose has outnumber as much as 40 percent compared to the death caused from car crashes in 2014 (Nolan and Amico 3). Furthermore, in 1999 there were only 15000 people died from drug overdose. This number has tripled in 15 years. Also, in his article, “America’s Addiction to Opioids: Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse” Volkow also presents the fact that “with an estimated 2.1 million people in the United States suffering from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers in 2012 and an estimated 467,000 addicted to heroin. The consequences of this abuse have been devastating and are on the rise. For example, the number of unintentional overdose deaths from prescription pain relievers has

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

According to the SAMHSA (2010) report on the national survey on drug use and health almost 22.5 million people are reported to be associated with substance abuse disorder (SAMHSA, 2010). This illness was found to be very common in all age groups, both sex, and seniors. There are several effects on these individuals and their families. Many people who suffer from substance abuse disorders fail to acknowledge these serious consequences. First of all, no response of pain relief can be seen with smaller doses of pain medications, as their bodies are used to high levels of various substances at the same time. Nurses become frustrated when they try to treat and help these patients with pain. Sometimes it is difficult to think about ethical principles when nurses have to deal with such patients with pain and suffering.

The rate of death due to prescription drug abuse in the U.S. has escalated 313 percent over the past decade. According to the Congressional Quarterly Transcription’s article "Rep. Joe Pitt Holds a Hearing on Prescription Drug Abuse," opioid prescription drugs were involved in 16,650 overdose-caused deaths in 2010, accounting for more deaths than from overdoses of heroin and cocaine. Prescribed drugs or painkillers sometimes "condemn a patient to lifelong addiction," according to Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This problem not only affects the lives of those who overdose but it affects the communities as well due to the convenience of being able to find these items in drug stores and such.

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.

This literature review will focus mainly on the drug use of heroin, the scary numbers behind the drug and the sudden rise of overdosing on the drug across the United States. Issues that will be discussed are what is Heroin, what’s in Heroin that makes it addicting, how it can increase the users risk of contracting other life threatening diseases and where it’s use and abuse are most popular across the United states and we will take a look at multiple studies that show examples of our new drug problem in the United States. While we looked at how homicide rates have dropped while in class, the flip side to that is that the amount of drug usage has risen.

Opioid epidemic have led to the use of heroin. Heroin and Opioid are silent killers that effect all levels of society and economic status. Prescription drugs alone is a 25 billion dollar business. “They are prescribed and sold illegally through street style pharmacists or “doctor shopping” by individuals who visit numerous physicians to obtain

With every five first time heroin users, four of them will have started out by using prescription painkillers (ASAM). According to the Journal of Addiction Medicine, the years 2010 to 2013 showed an increase of heroin-overdose deaths by 37% (NIDA). Until recently, opioid addiction, related criminal activity and death have been deeply casted into the shadows of important issues in our societies at a global level. Care for this particular area of substance abuse is urgent and crucial, one dosage having the capability to kill a person instantly. Before people can rid themselves of the poisons, the human body reacts to the absence of opioids in a powerful cycle of withdrawal. Decades filled with little to no research surrounding the rehabilitation of this common but life threatening illness has unfortunately resulted in few options for people to turn to. Medical experts, politicians and even passionate citizens are beginning to point attention towards this progressively large margin of individuals that are becoming addicted, desperate for treatment, and ending up with results of complete failure. The one-size-fits-all approach to opioid treatment needs to be abolished and replaced with a method of accountability and strict individual progress.

The mishandle of and dependence on opioids, for example, heroin, morphine, and solution torment relievers is a genuine worldwide issue that influences the wellbeing, social, and financial welfare of all social orders. It is assessed that between 26.4 million and 36 million individuals mishandle opioids worldwide,[1] with an expected 2.1 million individuals in the United States experiencing substance utilize clusters identified with solution opioid torment relievers in 2012 and an expected 467,000 dependent on heroin.[2] The results of this manhandling have been destroying and are on the ascent. For instance, the quantity of accidental overdose passing’s from medicine torment relievers has taken off in the United

The first factor to consider is that psychiatric disorders are common amongst individuals with a substance abuse disorder, which can negatively impact the effectiveness of treatment (Frances, Miller and Mack, 2005). This can be problematic and difficult for a clinician to pinpoint if the client is unable or unwilling to provide an honest feedback or assessment of the self. Another important factor in regards to this special population that should be taken into consideration is that mental health professionals should be cognizant that the admission of a substance abuse disorder could negatively impact the self. The reason why this is problematic for the patient is that admitting that they have an issue with substance abuse does not only validate they have an addiction, but it could also result in loss of employment. Therefore it is imperative that the clinician builds report with the client in order to guide him or her in the right direction. Another critical piece of information about co-occurring mental illness is that a potential cause of this phenomenon is that people with the psychiatric disorder utilize substances as a method to self-medicate or alleviate their psychosis. Interestingly, this framework is considered controversial due to the lack of empirical research supporting the assertion. A method to treat individuals with a dual diagnosis is relapse prevention therapy. The premise of this therapy is to treat psychological disorders in conjunction with

Drug addiction is a disease of the brain and a lot of times individuals who suffer with addiction also have other mental disorders. For individuals suffering with both one issue becomes very hard to treat because another issue is intertwined. Anyone who is entering a treatment program should be assessed for the co- occurrence of both substance use and a mental disorder. Research has proven that treating both (or multiple) illnesses at the same time in an integrated fashion is generally the best treatment approach for these patients.

In a span of 12 years from 1999 to 2011, consumption of hydrocodone more than doubled and the consumption of oxycodone increased by almost 500%(Annual Review of Public Health Vol. 36:559-574). From 1997 to 2011, there was a 900% increase in individuals seeking treatment for addiction to prescription opioids(Annual Review of Public Health Vol. 36:559-574). According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the abuse of prescription opioids is the “worst drug overdose epidemic in US history.”