Opioid Dependence Paper

Website Review: Opioid Dependence

HCS 457: Public and Community Health
March 17, 2015

Website Review: Opioid Dependence
Drug abuse has been a struggle for millions of people across the nation. In recent times there has been in increase in prescription medication overdoes deaths in the Unites States. Opioid misuse has quickly become a public health issue that has the potential to lead itself to long term health consequences, including impaired driving, behavioral health problems, respiratory distress, and the increasingly common overdose or death. “In California, deaths involving opioid prescription medications have increased 16.5 percent since 2006. In 2012, there were more than 1,800 deaths from all types of opioids – 72 percent…show more content…
“These drugs were involved in 14,800 overdose deaths in 2008, more than cocaine and heroin combined.” (Center of Disease Control and Prevention, 2013) The Centers of Disease Control has put stress in creating policies and state drug laws that are to be abided by; this also helped create various new pharmacy laws. The United States is faced with an epidemic that has shown no signs of slowing down.
The California Department of Public Health look at the states statistical number comparisons and isolated incidents due to opioid related overdoses and death. California’s response to this national epidemic has created a work group to help address the issue at a statewide level. This workgroup is called the “Prescription Opioid Misuse and Overdose Prevention Workgroup”, this group will look over major roles and policies with health care professionals and settings to find any flaws in their systems, and receive feedback from the professionals that deal with the problem everyday with opioid…show more content…
All three governments of national, statewide, and local public health agencies have taken this problem very seriously with resources to quit this addiction on their websites, and statistics of fatal outcomes. There have been many accidental deaths do to the misuse of opioids and has created one of the leading cause of death next to alcohol and motor vehicle accidents. With all public health agencies involved it has captured the attention of many people, and is now recognized as an epidemic that has just met its match with policies and distribution changes. This is a critical time for this country, but with community and public health involved there will be a fighting chance.

References
A CALL TO STOP EPIDEMIC OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE. (February 19, 2013). SAN DIEGO PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE MEDICAL TASK FORCE. Retrieved from http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/hhsa/programs/phs/health_services_advisory_board/documents/2013_February_PPT_-_Roneet_PDA_Medical_TF.pdf
California Department of Public Health. (January 9, 2015). Prescription Opioid Misuse and Overdose. Retrieved from http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/OpioidMisuseWorkgroup.aspx
Center of Disease Control and Prevention. (October 17, 2014). Prescription Drug Overdose. Retrieved from