epidemic within pandemic
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2023 Addiction Awareness Scholarship Essay | Johanna Silva-University of Phoenix
November 20
th
, 2023
AN EPIDEMIC WITHIN THE PANDEMIC
Before the COVID pandemic, there was the opioid epidemic. Though the pandemic has grabbed the headlines, Americans continue to die of opioids at alarming rates: 136 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. In all, more than 840,000 Americans have died of opioid-related causes since 1999. This surge has been more than 20 years in the making, revealing underlying inequities in terms of who is afflicted, healthcare access and use, and treatments, among others. A fraying social safety net, the growing availability of a more dangerous synthetic opioid called fentanyl, the push by pharmaceutical companies to aggressively market opioids, and the COVID-19 pandemic, among others, have contributed to the growing complexities of addressing the opioid epidemic.
What we face is a failure of understanding. What many people
, policymakers and the
public alike
, fail to grasp is that today's crisis is not like crises past. Historically, drug crises were characterized by the (re)emergence of a drug, followed by the spread of addiction and its attendant ills. The problems they caused affected individual and social health
, physical illness, social dysfunction, frayed relationships, public disorder, etc. While these still play a role, today's crisis is predominantly characterized by an unprecedented increase in the drug supply's lethality. Historical crises inflicted many equally weighty harms
, to users' health, to families, to communities. In this crisis, one problem dwarfs all others: death. Drugs have changed, probably for good. They now kill their users. Until policymakers internalize this fact, they will not make any progress. A haphazard approach was tolerable when the harms of drug use took time to accumulate. But with tens of thousands being poisoned to death every year, bolder action is required. A rule of thumb is that for any addictive substance
, legal or illegal, consumption is power law distributed. That is, 20% (or less) of the users consume 80% (or more) of the substance. The former are also the users among whom problems are most common, including most likely deaths. For this population
, those who not
only use, but are seriously, actively addicted
, the best tool available is treatment. A proportional policy response to these individuals' needs must focus on offering
,
and compelling,
treatment like never before.
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2023 Addiction Awareness Scholarship Essay | Johanna Silva-University of Phoenix
Compulsive cravings combined with prolonged abuse can prompt long-term negative
health consequences throughout the body. Most substances will cause strain on the organs,
as well as the venous and respiratory system after prolonged use. Many forms of addiction alter the user’s physical make-up, sometimes even just after a few weeks of use. Physical Effects of Substance Abuse Include: Organ damage, Hormone imbalance, Cancer (caused by nicotine or steroid use), Prenatal and fertility issues, Gastrointestinal disease, & HIV/AIDS. In addition to the above medical concerns, chronic use of certain substances can
lead to long-term neurological impairment, such as exacerbating or giving rise to mental health problems. Neurological and Emotional Effects of Substance Abuse Include the Following Mental Health Conditions: Depression, Anxiety, Memory loss, Aggression, Mood swings, Paranoia, & Psychosis. The ultimate health consequence of substance abuse, of course, is death, either caused directly by a situation such as an overdose or heart attack, or eventually through the development of drug-induced cancer or AIDs. Many addictive substances are highly regulated and, in certain situations, even banned by local and federal governments. This is done to reduce the consequences of addiction and to protect the well-
being of Americans. Being caught with a large quantity of drugs could result in a prison sentence as long as 40 years. Civil lawsuits may come with it as well, depending on if the person had been distributing the substance. If found guilty on felonious charges, the individual could lose the ability to vote and later have trouble finding employment, especially after serving a prison sentence. Now, approximately 47 percent of inmates serving federal prison sentences are doing so on drug offenses, although most were involved with trafficking
on some level. Addiction is hard to hide. As chronic substance abuse continues, it will affect almost every aspect of the user’s life. Their ability to concentrate may be diminished, their mood may fluctuate, and their interests will likely change as drug cravings become compulsive. The social effects of drug addiction usually include tension within a family, if not an outright rift, even if the user hides their substance intake well. Friendship dynamics often change as well, as non-users will increasingly find less in common with (and struggle to enjoy the company of) friends who continuously use. Soon enough, an addict may only find comfort when around other people who abuse substance.
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2023 Addiction Awareness Scholarship Essay | Johanna Silva-University of Phoenix
The drug crisis is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach to address. On an individual level, it is important to seek professional help if you or someone you know is struggling with addiction. There are many resources available to help individuals overcome addiction, including counseling, medication-assisted treatment, and support groups. On a societal level, addressing the social determinants of health can help improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities related to opioid use disorder (OUD). Socioeconomic and environmental factors, as well as health-related behaviors, are responsible for 80-90% of health outcomes. Programs aimed at preventing new cases of OUD, identifying early cases of opioid misuse, ensuring access to effective treatment, employing harm reduction strategies, and supporting vulnerable populations can help prevent opioid addiction and overdose deaths, and improve the lives of those struggling with
OUD. It is also important to note that addiction is a disease and should be treated as such. Reducing the stigma surrounding addiction and increasing access to evidence-based treatment can help individuals overcome addiction and lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
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