Opioid abuse has become one of the major problems that the health sector in the US is currently facing. In 2017, CDC reported that approximately 63,632 people had died of opioid overdose deaths, a 45.2% rise from the previous observations (Manchikanti et al., 2016). The situation has led to very devastating effects economically and psychologically. Opioids now affect the patients and healthcare workers in hospitals actively and inactively. The caregivers are always allocated the burden of understanding the patient suffering from opioid abuse and offering the right medication to them. The health sectors, especially public health, have to manage the well-being of the people, which has become a big challenge with the growth of opioids. This paper evaluates the opioid effects on healthcare organizations, the solutions, and the ethical considerations.
Analysis of the problem/Issue
The abuse of opioid medication has become so prevalent in the communities that it has affected the status quo. The medical professional and the efficiency of their techniques have not been left behind. According to Jalali et al. (2020), one of the major public health crises medical organizations face is the increase in drug overdoses. Notably, approximately 12 million Americans misused opioids, while more than 47000 people died of opioid overdose in 2017 (Stoicea et al., 2019). The exposure comes with opioid treatment to reduce pain and prevent long-term reoccurrence. Additionally, there are cases of overestimation regarding drug toxicity deaths due to a lack of uniform investigations like toxicological evaluations.
Moreover, health organizations have had problems producing accurate and timeliness analytical, characterization, and toxicology of novel synthetic opioids. As a result, the hospitals find it hard to keep up with the changing drug market. In addition to the changes in the market, the stigmatization of patients affected by opioids is very high such that they do not seek medical help (Clinton et al., 2021). Consequently, the doctors find it hard to understand the new drugs being used and also manage addiction.
A potential solution for the problem
Proposed solutions
Various solutions have been proposed for managing the opioid crisis by healthcare organizations. One major element of the problem is the inaccuracy and lack of alignment in the opioid market; therefore, ensuring timely awareness by the forensics department would solve the solution. Morrow et al. (2018) testify that enhancing the timelessness and accuracy of the analytical characterization and toxicology testing of novel synthetic opioids can improve medical professional knowledge of drugs. The hospital organization can achieve this by constantly engaging with the community members and researching opioids. Clinton et al., (2021) states that identifying emerging novel synthetics allows health organizations to manage the outbreak of new outbreaks in the drug markets. Engagement with the community will enable the caregivers to understand the trends in the opioid market, enhance their understanding of their patients, and improve their abilities to collect data and conduct research, impacting their knowledge of the toxicology of opioids. Additionally, the collaboration will build a relationship that enhance the implementation of patient interventions, treatment, and campaigns against opioids. Moreover, communication between the patient and the caregiver should be adequate since early communication of real-time toxicity and analytical data enhances the quality of care. Additionally, for the hospital to keep up with the market and engage with the community, they need to be skilled in engaging with the community members to enhance effective communication and engagement. They also need additional resources for collecting data and conducting research on the opioid drugs they find in the market in order to identify the components.
Possible results when the problem is ignored
In case these problems are ignored, there are potential consequences. Opioid abuse has been associated with economic crises such as poverty and psychological and social problems among the users and those close to them (Dasgupta et al., 2018). The health sector, therefore, helps manage the economy and the well-being of the people by managing their addiction to opioids. When forensics cannot identify new opioids in the market and understand the components of the compounds being used, a medical professional’s ability to help an individual suffering from addiction is limited. They do not get to understand how the addiction can be deterred. Hence the patient continuously uses opioids despite medication. The patients are not under the right treatment as the medical professional does not have any information on the proper approach in dealing with such a patient. Hence there is a high possibility of an increase in the number of deaths since there is no knowledge of managing a certain opioid drug.
Possible cons and pros of one solution
Timelessness and accuracy of the analytical characterization and toxicology testing of novel synthetic opioids are one of the most suggested solutions to the problem. However, this is not easily achieved. The solution requires total investment in research and resources; local professionals must also be highly skilled and knowledgeable about Opioid toxicology. Therefore, the hospital will incur high expenditure in implementing this solution. However, the solution has some benefits. A study found that when after the identification of the novel opioids, the rate of death decreased as the medical professionals knew which opioids were mostly used and gained skills on how to cater to addicted patients. Moreover, the medical professionals and the forensics department get to identify the compounds in the compound being abused and get involved in possible measures to deter the addition of the identified Opioid.
Ethical consideration
The American Nursing Association’s nursing ethics are crucial and will help in the management of the opioid effect on the health organization. ANA identified several necessary ethical codes: non-maleficence, beneficence, autonomy, and justice (ANA, 2018). The solution recommended and adopted by health organizations should be built on ethical codes. Healthcare professionals are expected to work towards avoiding harm as guided by the code of non-maleficence. Therefore, when a professional realizes that there is overuse of opioid drugs, it is wise or expected of them to seek alternative methods of reducing the pain experienced by the patient to avoid possible cases of addiction in the future (Anderson & McNair, 2018). Moreover, the medical professionals operating in the forensics department, guided by the code of non-maleficence, are expected to research and keep up with the continuously evolving world of opioids.
The code of beneficence states that a medical professional should work towards the benefit of the patient rather than the self. Therefore, the medical professional, for example, in taking up the training and workshops to learn about medications other than opioids for treatment for minimization of opioid use in the medical treatment, should be guided by the aim to benefit the patient (Anderson & McNair, 2018). Moreover, the choice by a hospital to invest more in opioids should be guided by the will to do good to the patient and also to minimize the possibility of adverse effects due to addiction by a patient.
Medical professionals are also expected to be just in their practices. The nurses and the physicians should abide by the guidelines and not favor any party or have a preference for investigating a certain opioid without focusing on the effects of the other. Moreover, while dealing with addicts, the care accorded to all the patients should be similar. Additionally, education and the use of media to reduce stigmatization should be comprehensive of different abilities and cultural differences of the patients who visit the medical facility. When diverting from the usual Opioid used for painkillers, a caregiver should discuss the diversion with the patient. The patient, as guided by the code on autonomy, has the right to understand the kind of medication being offered to them and give the go-ahead to the caregiver.
These ethical conducts are important because they help health organizations protect patients while avoiding possible lawsuits. Additionally, they act as the guidelines on what dos and don’ts for medical professionals.
Conclusion
Opioid abuse is one of the major problems experienced in the US. The prevalence is so high that it has challenged health organizations’ and medical professionals’ abilities and knowledge. Some of the challenges experienced in the health organization include a lack of knowledge on the toxicology of opioids, overuse of opioids in the hospital, and stigmatization hindering victims from asking for treatment. Some solutions that would help the health organizations include: offering educational training to health professionals on the proper administration of opioids, offering media guidance to reduce stigmatization, and investing in research to improve medical professionals’ knowledge and capabilities. During implementation, health organizations should abide by the ANA nursing ethics.
References
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Anderson, E., & McNair, L. (2018). Ethical issues in research involving participants with opioid use disorder. Therapeutic Innovation & Regulatory Science, 52(3), 280–284. https://doi.org/10.1177/2168479018771682
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