ipl-logo

The Pros And Cons Of Opioid Overdoses

817 Words4 Pages

"In 2021, 107,622 lives were lost in the United States due to a drug overdose. This is an average of nearly 295 people per day. Of this total, approximately 66% of overdose deaths were attributable to opioids"(2022). Many of these deaths were caused by being prescribed the drug in an unprofessional manner, then leading to the patients abusing the drug. However, the doctors and pharmaceutical companies who prescribe the drug may not be able to keep track of whose hands the drug gets into. While this may seem like a small issue that can be fixed, it's a much bigger and more complicated situation. Some believe that doctors or pharmaceutical companies should not be held accountable for opioid overdoses because patients should not be taking addictive …show more content…

Opponents support the idea that patients should not be taking addictive medication because they believe patients have a choice when it comes to taking a painkiller. According to Dwyer, “Your Guide To The Massive (And Massively Complex) Opioid Litigation” states, “Historically, opioid medications in the U.S. were prescribed in cases of extreme need or for patients suffering a terminal illness. But in the late 1990s, the pharmaceutical industry began aggressively pushing the drugs for use in a much wider range of applications.” This proves patients don’t have full control over what they take and aren’t fully aware how addictive the medicine can get. Some believe the patients should be following the dosing directions that are given. However, most doctors claim to follow what pharmaceutical companies advertise them to do. Hirsch, Ronald. “The Opioid Epidemic: It's Time to Place Blame Where It Belongs.” explains “We overprescribe opioids, just as we overprescribe antibiotics. But it is generally well meaning; we don’t want our patients to experience pain. But then we prescribe 30 or 60 pills when 5 or 20 would have been adequate.” This goes into depth how doctors do what they are told by companies who false …show more content…

Doctors should be the ones to keep track of their patients to make sure they follow dosing directions; it is not only part of their job but also benefits them as well so that patients won't have to make more phone calls than usual. It is important for patients to be given the specific amount that they need to take in order to not have issues with opioids. According to NIDA. "Prescription Opioids DrugFacts." National Institute on Drug Abuse, states, “Long-term use of prescription opioids, even as prescribed by a doctor, can cause some people to develop a tolerance, which means that they need higher and/or more frequent doses of the drug to get the desired effects.” This tolerance soon leads to addiction, and messes with the patient's tolerance when taking this powerful medication. Yet there are many pharmaceutical companies that hide how addictive opioids can really be. Patients get told about the side effects before having to take the drug but pharmaceutical companies tend to falsely advertise how intense side effects can really be. According to Dwyer, “Your Guide To The Massive (And Massively Complex) Opioid Litigation” states, “Broadly speaking, all these companies have been accused of fueling the nation's

Show More
Related
126 Words | 1 Pages

The opioids epidemic interventions are essential to prevent prescribed opioids abuse, promote safe prescriptions for individuals and decrease mortality rates. Furthermore, the goals in practicing safe and regulated medicine, enables the individual who needs opioids analgesics to control their pain and suffering. Implementing interventions to this issue would include holding health care professionals accountable for misconduct, educating and evaluating physicians, pharmacists, and monitoring prescribers to apply state laws and regulations. A collaborative approach to regulate, educate and monitor is inevitable for effective outcomes! Consequently, many physicians may possibly be hesitant prescribing opioids drugs to prevent penalties.

Read More
485 Words | 2 Pages

However, from 2013 to 2014 there was a 20 percent increase in drug overdoses. (4) Individuals with opioid prescriptions need to be educated, counseled and given appropriate help when

Read More
480 Words | 2 Pages

This question is addressed in the third section of the article. For that reason, the author writes with a rhetoric of pathos to encourage the reader to persevere and also purchase Naloxone, a drug which can alter the effects of opioids in case of emergency. Since addiction is an emotional subject, this section of the article contains much pathos rhetoric

Read More
1951 Words | 8 Pages

While it is equally important to stop opioid usage of all types, focusing on the most dangerous drugs can save lives, which is the goal of Dreifuss’s plan. Additionally,

Read More
935 Words | 4 Pages

I. Importance: As American deaths from drug overdoses continue to rise in the United States, the nation is faced with a public health crisis so profound that in October 2017, President Trump declared the opioid epidemic to be a national public health emergency (Merica). President Trump’s declaration came after numerous studies indicating the danger opioid addiction posed; for example, a 2016 study entitled “Increases in Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths—United States, 2010-2015” claimed that drug overdose deaths “nearly tripled during 1999-2014,” reaching a startling high 52,404 deaths in 2015 (Rudd, et al). These statistics are more than just disturbing revelations regarding the opioid crisis; they are evidence of a serious problem that is rapidly affecting the lives of more and more Americans every year. Death by overdose is not the only public policy concern, however, as millions of Americans are also addicted to prescription opioids.

Read More
737 Words | 3 Pages

The death rate associated with opioid overdose has

Read More
608 Words | 3 Pages

Some patients prefer not to take pain medication because they fear addiction or may have a history of substance abuse. Educating the patients on their right to be free of pain and having their pain managed aggressively is a priority in the recovery phase. The goals that I hope to achieve during this clinical practicum

Read More
1087 Words | 5 Pages

Prescription drugs (opiates only) have caused over 165,000 deaths within the last 15 years and is currently on the rise. Over 2 million Americans in 2014 were addicted to Opiate prescription narcotics. The most troubling fact is listed directly on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: “As many as 1 in 4

Read More
507 Words | 3 Pages

It also states that legally prescribed opioids are generally safe when taken for a short amount of time and are prescribed by a doctor. It described that opioids can be misused by being taken in a different way, in larger quantities or without a doctor’s prescription. Also talks about the drug that can reverse an opioid overdose if given right away, which is naloxone (Abuse). b. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that since 1999 the number of overdose deaths involving opioids has quadrupled. The number of opioid involved deaths continues to increase in the United States.

Read More
793 Words | 4 Pages

In the last decade, opioid abuse rates are going up but is now starting to get seen in the public’s eye. Multiple celebrities have passed away because of overdoses due to opioid painkillers or illegal drugs. Peaches Geldof, Philip Hoffman, Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger, and Prince all died because of overdoses. They were pushed aside by the public because nobody wanted to acknowledge that they died because of a drug overdose. In 2014, there were more than 18,000 death due to opioid overdoses.

Read More
596 Words | 3 Pages

Dependence on prescription opioids can stem from treatment of chronic pain and in recent years is the cause of the increased number of opioid overdoses. Opioids are very addictive substances, having serious life threatening consequences in case of intentional or accidental overdose. The euphoria attracts recreational use, and frequent,

Read More
685 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
192 Words | 1 Pages

Opioid pain medications are some of the most commonly abused prescription drugs. Between 1991 and 2010, opioid prescriptions rose from about 75.5 million to 209.5 million. Americans account for 4.6% of the world’s population but consume approximately 80% of the world’s opioid supply. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 12 million people used prescription painkillers for nonmedical reasons in 2010. Opioid abuse has led to increases in emergency-department visits, hospitalizations, and admissions to substance-abuse treatment centers at a time when our healthcare system is already strained.

Read More
1386 Words | 6 Pages

Throughout the past three decades, there has been a deadly nationwide epidemic in America. Like a disease, it has continued to spread in the United States causing sickness, broken up families, and death. However, this disease cannot be treated with antivirals, nor can be prevented with vaccines. This disease is the widespread misuse of opioids and opioid variants. Opioids have become so highly addictive and abused over the last 30 years that “between 1999 and 2019, nearly half a million people died from opioid overdose, over half of all US deaths due to drug overdose” (Gardner et.

Read More
970 Words | 4 Pages

These pills, such as xanax and oxycodone allow people for short periods of time to withdraw from the harsh reality faced today. “Between 1997 and 2002, sales of oxycodone and methadone nearly quadrupled” (Okie). Around 15 years later and the prescription pill problem is continuing to skyrocket. Since prescription pills are dispersed out to anyone by doctors, many people do not realize that it is as much of an illicit drug as cocaine and heroin is. “Misinformation about the addictive properties of prescription opioids and the perception that prescription drugs are less harmful than illicit drugs are other possible contributors to the problem” (NIDA).

Read More

More about The Pros And Cons Of Opioid Overdoses

Related Topics

Open Document