Strategies and Tactics Paper on Prescription Drug Abuse, Misuse, and Overdose
Introduction: Identifying the Problem
In 2015, it was reported that the number of people who died from drug overdose come from West Virginia and it has become a bigger killer compared to car crashes in the country. Statistics show that for every 100,000 citizens, 34 die from substance abuse in the different communities from the area. It was also revealed that this number is a 35 percent increase from the previous data obtained between 2007 and 2009. According to Dr. Rahul Gupta who is the state officer in West Virginia, the reason for this is because of the state’s history of poor education and relay of information when it comes to their medical needs. He also said that it could also be the position of the state because it is far from urban cities, substance abuse programs are usually out of reach (Byrne, 2015). The abused drugs that cause the rise in these numbers are is the opioid pain relievers which are also called prescription painkillers and some of which are oxycodone and hydromorphone. These drugs are responsible for three-fourths of all the prescription drug overdose deaths in the country.
These prescribed opioid analgesics are now responsible for more overdose deaths in the country compared to commonly abused drugs like heroin and cocaine. However, there is also an increase in prescription of these drugs over the last 20 years and this is reported to be one of the reasons there are an increase in number of cases involving these drugs. Many experts also believe that the second main reason these drugs are abused is because of the lack of the regulation from key figures in the health departments and also the manufacturers of these drugs. With that, people continue to share and steal these dangerous prescriptions, which can be obtained from different doctors (O’Malley, 2015, p. 139).
Identifying the Needs of the Community
Because there is an increase in the number of deaths involving drug overdose, the community must look for methods in managing both the prescription and use of these drugs. The health community like the doctors and nurses must also relay the necessary information to the people regarding the proper use of these drugs. Organizations are now working to help prevent drug misuse and abuse, such as the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The organization recently expanded the National Drug Control Strategy and they recommended educating the patients and the providers about the risks associated with the misuse of these drugs and enhance the drug monitoring program. The Federal and state bodies are also working on managing the problem with the help of the Drug Enforcement Agency and the FDA, by imposing penalties for inappropriate drug prescription practices (Brady, McCauley, & Back, 2016, p. 20).
Strategies to Influence Change
One of the major changes that can be done to decrease the number of substance abuse cases is to influence the behavior of the patients. For those who are suffering from addiction, one of the strategies that could be employed is the behavioral therapy, such as counseling. Counseling is a traditional addiction treatment and it helps the patients to assess their behaviors and problems, which are related to their addiction. Counseling could be done by group or by a person. Additionally, people who are diagnosed with opioid dependence should be prescribed with certain medications, such as naloxone to prevent overdose of the drugs. Furthermore, a close physician-patient relationship is also needed for the prevention of misuse of these drugs (McDonald, 2013, p. 34). Another way to improve the patient’s behavior towards this drug, would be the application of doctor’s motivational interview during patient visit (Bowman, Eiserman, Beletsky, Stancliff, & Bruce, 2013, p. 565).
Over the years, it was discovered that environmental conditions also play a major role in both the influence of drug addiction and in treatment process. Apart from the therapy, the method should also be in an environment, where the patients feel comfortable and supported. The families of the patient should play as one of the support systems for these patients, thus, doctors should also establish a relationship with the patients. For younger patients, the lack of the family’s involvement can potentially lead to the risk of experimentation with drugs. This is the main reason that doctors must ensure that the patient’s family cooperates in treatment and management process.
Moreover, the community where the patients live must also make an effort to make sure that they have the knowledge when it comes to managing people who have addictions. In West Virginia, the community urgently needs the help of the health care system, not only to educate the people, but also to help them manage the prescriptions. The community is part of the patient’s environment. When there are a large number of people abusing drugs inside the community, it can also influence other people to misuse prescription drugs most especially the younger residents. One of the successful strategies is the involvement of the community in drug abuse programs. These centers also need volunteers to help the younger patients to be in an environment, where they can feel supported and able to do activities where they can channel their feelings and behavior.
Lastly, the government also needs to work on making public policies about prescription drug misuse. It was reported that over 49 states have developed prescription drug monitoring programs. These programs are designed to limit overprescribing of opioids and makes necessary data accessible to different health care systems and providers such as prescribers, pharmacies, and the law enforcement officials (Haffajee, Jena, & Weiner, 2015, p. 891). Many Federal agencies and non-government organizations view these prescription drug monitoring programs as the key part in the effort to prevent drug overdose deaths over the country (Davis, Johnston, & Pierce, 2015, p. e9). When the Federal and state government agencies address and manage this problem through application of the policies and laws, drug misuse will dramatically decrease.
Conclusion
Opioid addiction is more than just a physical dependence on the drug, as there are also both psychological and sociological factors that could stimulate drug abuse. This is the reason that behavioral and environmental influences must be done to address this issue. The treatment method is influenced by the government efforts and different sectors of the health care industry. With sufficient number of programs available for those who are suffering from opioid addiction along with community support, drug misuse can be regulated and controlled. In addition, proper education from physicians, other health care providers, and drug manufacturers; people will earn knowledge about the risks and the potential consequences of drug misuse. West Virginia is somehow in need of supplemental education, monitoring, and regulatory enhancement in order to address the health issue in relation to drug overdose.
References
Bowman, S., Eiserman, J., Beletsky, L., Stancliff, S., & Bruce, R. D. (2013). Reducing the Health Consequences of Opioid Addiction in Primary Care. The American Journal of Medicine, 126(7), 565-571. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2012.11.031
Brady, K. T., McCauley, J. L., & Back, S. E. (2016). Prescription Opioid Misuse, Abuse, and Treatment in the United States: An Update. American Journal of Psychiatry, 173(1), 18-26. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15020262
Byrne, B. P. (2015, June 20). This State Has The Most Deaths From Drug Overdose. Retrieved from http://www.vocativ.com/news/203562/this-state-has-the-most-deaths-from-drug-overdose/
Davis, C. S., Johnston, J. E., & Pierce, M. W. (2015). Overdose Epidemic, Prescription Monitoring Programs, and Public Health: A Review of State Laws. Am J Public Health,105(11), e9-e11. doi:10.2105/ajph.2015.302856
Haffajee, R. L., Jena, A. B., & Weiner, S. G. (2015). Mandatory Use of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs. JAMA, 313(9), 891. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.18514
McDonald, J. V. (2013). Appropriate Prescribing of Opiates as Professional Conduct. Rhode Island Medical Journal, 33-35.
O’Malley, P. A. (2015). Opioid Abuse, Misuse, and Death. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 29(3), 139-142. doi:10.1097/nur.0000000000000130
