Opioid Abuse
Every eleven minutes a person dies from opioid abuse in America. In Bergen County alone, there were 157 suspected overdoses, and 366,699 prescriptions dispensed in 2018 alone. Opioids are ravaging America’s population, which has been dominant since the 90s. Opioid abuse in America is a present and persistent crisis. How did it reach this point?
Opioids can either be classified as a prescription medication or an illegal drug, like heroin. Opioids block pain and replace it with a dopamine rush. Dopamine deals with the front part of your brain - the part that is connected to pleasure, satisfaction, and rewards. Opioids are supposed to be a short-term solution for serious pain. After the opioids do their job, the pleasant feeling they brought you disappears. The brain begins to miss the gratifying feeling of its “reward.” This leads to addiction and destruction. The more opioids that are used, the more they are needed to function.
Most of the time, people get addicted to opioids through a doctor’s prescription. Doctors may over-prescribe (prescribe a drug in larger amounts than necessary), unintentionally risking their patient’s health. After the prescription, the users need opioids. Addicts live fix-to-fix. They will do anything to get their hands on them; misusing family funds, getting involved with drug-dealers, stealing medication or money from loved ones, and even selling their body. Is there a way to fix this tragedy, and avoid getting addicted? The answer is yes.
The next time you go to the doctor for pain, ask about what they are prescribing you. Make sure they do not give you more than you need. Do not feel afraid to ask your doctor questions. At the end of the day, it’s your health and your life.
Addiction is hard to overcome. After an addict stops using, withdrawal happens. Symptoms of withdrawal are depression, trouble sleeping, anxiety, seizures, and more. Withdrawal can last for one week, or it can last for several months. Many people end up using opioids again because they can not handle the symptoms of withdrawal.
President Trump is putting an initiative into effect that will try to reduce opioid use. The plan consists of three parts:
Reducing the demand for drugs, stopping over-prescription, and educating Americans about the dangers of opioid use.
Preventing the supply of illegal drugs into American communities.
Helping people already struggling with addiction with various recovery and treatment options.
Hopefully, this plan will help reduce the number of opioid-related deaths. If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, there is always help - you just have to take the first step. 1-800-662-4357 is the National Helpline. It’s always open. There is always a chance for a new beginning.