Opioid Epidemic Research Paper

Opioid Epidemic in the United States The opioid crisis has risen over the years here in America. The addiction to painkillers has caused many drug overdoses across America. According to the Vox," In 2015, more than 52,000 people have died from drug overdoses from linked to opioids such as Percocet, heroin, Oxycontin or even fentanyl. This problem did not become an overnight health crisis, but it has become quickly known in America. Expanding our drug treatment centers across America would provide the support to those who are addicted to drugs. We can use this process by providing medical marijuana. Medical Marijuana can prevent from being given other drugs for pain. This is a possible solution to reduce the opioid prescriptions

It can also be deadly for individuals abusing it. It 's important that this drug does also come with side effects, such as shortness of breath, vomiting, or even overdosing. It can also be troublesome for the addict to get to the clinic every day for a dosage of methadone. "If individuals taking methadone develop a physical dependence on the drug and they stop taking it or decrease their dose they will begin to experience methadone withdrawal"(Methadone Statistics). Methadone withdrawal is far more painful and burdensome than other forms of opiate withdrawal and can last up to 5 or 6 weeks. Past heroin users describe the horrors of heroin addiction withdrawal as being far less painful and difficult than methadone

For less dosage of the painkillers, patients would decrease the number of opioid addiction that being said that could lead to death. As to cutting back on opioid prescriptions, there will be less of inappropriate distributing to those who would abuse it improperly. Doctors have found other medical treatments to their patients without providing opioids. Hospitals have prescribed opioids more than doctors do. According to the Baltimore Sun, "Only 20% of doctors have shown to only provide opioids. However, hospitals have changed the approach to pain management but still haven 't made a change. More hospitals still provide opioids to patients with the dependence on the drug. Overall, the opioid addiction represents a serious issue in American society. The best solution in decreasing the number of overdoses is the low dosages of opioids provided by hospitals and doctors. In American society, this solution would be the best way to lower drug overdoses by providing alternative treatments without using