Recently in my CAS class we held a deliberation run by my fellow classmates. I participated in one where we discussed the opioid epidemic and different ways to address the issue. Many of my classmates knew little about the issue but as we continued to discuss it we became very interested in it considering it a major problem that needs to be addressed. Many of you may be in my class and have already discussed this, but if anyone doesn’t know about it here is some background on the epidemic. Opioids are extremely addictive drugs and have led to many overdoses. In 2020 the CDC estimates that 91,799 people in the United States died of opioid overdoses. There are several causes of this epidemic including pharmaceutical marketing and portraying opioids as a non addictive treatment to pain to doctors. This then led to overprescribing of opioids by doctors. However, some people get opioids from illegal sources and not from doctors.

In our deliberation we discussed various ways to tackle the epidemic including prevention, treatment, and deterrence. These were mainly actions taken by government or larger organizations and outside of the hands of individual people like ourselves. I wanted to look at this through a different perspective of what can be done by individual people to help curb this epidemic.

Ending the stigma

To start one simple action anyone can take is ending the stigma against addicts and seeking treatment. Many people who are addicted will not admit to themselves on others that they are addicted because of the stigmas surrounding addiction. Many people view addiction as a personal failure or view addicts as weak and irresponsible, but in reality addicts are suffering from an illness that like any other disease can be treated. Opioids in particular are extremely addictive substances and anyone can get addicted to them.

Education

Another step any of us could take is to educate and spread awareness about opioids and their effects. You can easily do research on opioids, their effects, when they should be used, and what treatment options are available near you. If you are looking to get more educated on the topic check out this site by the New York State Department of health. It includes information on the risks of opioids and recommends that you learn about them and share the risks with your loved ones and the community to better protect them.

Know the warning signs of opioid addiction and overdose

Opioid addiction is a disease that progresses over time. This means that there are warning signs before someone overdoses. Many people when their loved ones overdose or they find out they are addicted are shocked and say they would never have seen that coming. For this reason it is important to be aware of the signs so you can protect those around you. There are a combination of physical and behavioral signs of opioid abuse. These include small pupils, decreased respiratory rate, non responsiveness, drowsiness, loss or increase in appetite, weight loss or weight gain, intense flu-like symptoms, wearing long-sleeves or hiding arms, change in attitude and/or personality, tendency to avoid contact with family and/or friends, change in friends, hobbies, activities and/or sports, drops in grades or performance at work, isolation and secretive behavior, moodiness, irritability, nervousness, giddiness, and tendency to steal among other things.

If you notice these warning signs in others or have a personal concern there is a national hotline that can help you and others. Here is the link to the free hotline and treatment locator. They are open 24/7 all year and can be reached through call or text.

Hope this provided you all some more resources to help prevent the opioid epidemic.