The opioid crisis began when the major pharmaceutical firms assured medical providers that patients would not be addicted to opioid pain reliever prescriptions and that the drug has few risks. Healthcare providers began massive prescriptions of opioid pain relievers, which later were found to be highly addictive, leading to rising cases of opioid overdose in the country. Also, most distributors stopped adhering to the law requiring them to report the number of drugs supplied to stores and any suspicious orders. For instance, Sav-Rite Pharmacy in West Virginia ordered nine million hydrocodone pills over two years (60 Minutes, 2018). Approximately 17000 Americans died in 2011 due to overdoses from opioid prescriptions (60 Minutes, 2018). The number of deaths from opioid overdose has rapidly increased over the years. In 2017, more than 47000 people died in the United States due to opioid prescription overdose, including heroin, synthetic opioids, and fentanyl. Also, more than 1.7 million individuals were reported to suffer from opioid substance use-related disorders, and more than 650000 people had heroin use disorder in the same year.

In 2019, around 50000 Americans died from opioid-related overdoses. Opioid misuse and addiction is a grave national crisis that impacts the economic and social welfare and public health. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the economic burden in the United States from opioid prescription misuse is $78.5 billion annually. The burden includes healthcare costs, criminal justice involvement, productivity loss, and addiction treatment (NIH, 2021). Opioid misuse has led to high neonatal abstinence syndrome and the spread of infectious diseases like Hepatitis C and HIV. Besides, it has led to substance addiction and psychological trauma issues in society (Foundations Recovery Network, 2021).

Dealing with wealthy individuals

The government should establish a comprehensive framework that will root out every individual involved in creating the opioid crisis. The government should establish and use a systemic approach in dealing with such individuals. The systemic approach will enable the government to crack down and root up those influential individuals who use their money and power to create such a menace. Some individuals in the government are influenced by the key medical distributors (McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen). These firms have pushed even law enforcement agencies like the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) to the corner and left them with limited powers to control the drug industry. The key drug industry players influenced Congress to pass a bill that stripped the DEA of its powers to control the industry in 2016 (60 Minutes, 2018). Therefore, the government should employ a systemic approach to track these individuals from Congress down to the House of Representatives and hold them accountable.

Society intervention

Society can intervene in the crisis by establishing programs like evidence-based medication and increasing their accessibility to opioid-addicted individuals. These programs will provide addicted individuals with medication-assisted treatment and primary and community mental healthcare services. The programs will also offer such individuals high-quality psychosocial services to supplement recovery.

References

60 Minutes. (2018, October 10). The Whistleblower. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd-43K-rdQA&ab_channel=60Minutes

Foundations Recovery Network, (2021). Psychological Trauma and Drug Addiction. Retrieved from: https://dualdiagnosis.org/psychological-trauma-drug-addiction/

NIH, (2021). Opioid Overdose Crisis. Retrieved from: https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis