Overdose Fatalities Caused by Fentanyl Usage

Target Community

In recent years overdose fatalities caused by fentanyl usage have increased dramatically in British Columbia. Therefore, fentanyl drug abuse is an urgent public health concern in the region. The target community for the Fentanyl abuse health promotion program is fentanyl addicts in British Columbia. The program aims to reduce the damage caused by addiction by treating the underlying issues that lead to fentanyl usage. Statistics show that individuals of various sexes, ages, and socioeconomic statuses abuse fentanyl. Nonetheless, drug use disproportionately impacts homeless, low-income, and mentally ill people and other disadvantaged groups. To lower the social stigma of addiction and help individuals in need, the program will be open to all community members.

Health promotion and harm reduction are the focus of a community-based approach to address fentanyl consumption. The program gives people, and groups control over their health and happiness, whereas harm reduction aims to lessen the negative effects of drug use. The program’s end objective is to lessen the negative effects of fentanyl addiction by giving people the tools they need to make educated choices about their health. Fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid that may lead to death quickly (Kuczyńska et al., 2018). Abuse of fentanyl is a complicated problem that calls for a wide range of solutions. Health behavior, social environment, and literacy will all be given attention as they pertain to the research population and theoretical framework.

In British Columbia, individuals with fentanyl addiction depict various behaviors and symptoms. The community is characterized by adverse outcomes of fentanyl use, including illness, withdrawal from normal social activities, broken relationships, and financial strain. Concerning the physiological framework, the community shows biological concerns such as slow breathing, narrowed pupils, tiredness, and disorientation. The community is involved in dangerous social activities like stealing, prostitution, and forgery to see many doctors get fentanyl. In a different context, the community shows mood, and behavior changes, such as being more irritable, anxious, or depressed (Thomson et al., 2017). Addiction is a complicated illness with varying effects on various people. Treatment for fentanyl addiction must begin with the patient seeking medical and mental health expert assistance.

Health Promotion Program

As mentioned, fentanyl misuse is a multidimensional problem that calls for various solutions. A community education as a health promotion program in British Columbia, Canada, aims to lessen the damage caused by fentanyl addiction in the area by addressing the underlying causes of the problem. The plan involves approaches like community organization and service extension, both proven methods for promoting health.

Community Organizing

Community organizing as a health promotion approach includes proffering communities with skills and information to create positive regional changes. The plan will use this technique to address the underlying causes of fentanyl usage in the British Columbia community. In this context, the approach includes steps like identifying community leaders, key players in the fight against drug abuse, and individuals who can effectively organize the community. These groups of people use their influence to advise the residents to join the fight against fentanyl misuse. The second phase of the approach involves the evaluation of the community’s needs. The phase involves the evaluation of the community’s fentanyl abuse needs and priorities to create a plan that meets the unique requirements of the area. Thirdly, establish cooperative relationships with community groups and stakeholders to develop a welcoming and accepting space for individuals with fentanyl addiction. Accepting space is free from discrimination and judgment, reducing the stigma of seeking help for fentanyl addiction. Those with addiction problems will be identified via the program’s screening and assessment services and given individualized assistance and tools to help them beat their addiction. Another phase of the approach involves awareness and education for the public (Buxton et al., 2019). Combating fentanyl usage requires education and awareness initiatives for the general public to create an informed society. Finally, group intervention informs of support groups, which host community activities to combat fentanyl misuse.

Service Extension

Service extension is a health promotion approach characterized by extending the available health care to underprivileged communities to improve public health. The program will use the approach to broaden participation in existing care networks, including treatment facilities, support groups, and counseling services. In the precepts, the service extension approach phases involve assessing service needs, developing service plans, cooperating with various service providers, analyzing services, and continual improvement. In other words, the program will evaluate the community’s service requirements to pinpoint where further support is needed and how best to provide it (Sharma, 2021). The outcome of the needs assessment will inform the program’s strategy for expanding its offerings to meet the demands of previously unreached groups.

Concerning collaboration with different service providers, the program will work with existing service providers to increase the scope of their offerings to the intended population. In this context, providing service providers with more tools and assistance may be necessary to assist the intended group better. In essence, collaboration manifests into consideration of service quality based on service evaluation and analysis. The expanded services will be measured for how well they serve the program’s intended audience(Sharma, 2021). As part of the process, the program will gather information on client experiences, reactions, and final results to make any required changes to the expanded services to ensure continual improvement.

Overarching Goal

Community organization and service extension are two health promotion strategies used in British Columbia’s initiative to combat fentanyl consumption. The program’s overarching goal is to lessen the destructive effects of addiction by addressing the underlying reasons for fentanyl consumption. Individuals with fentanyl addiction will have better access to information and services to equip them to make educated choices about their health and well-being. Constant monitoring and analysis of the program’s performance will allow improvements to maximize its positive influence on the intended population. The rationale for the overarching objective is that fentanyl usage is a complicated problem with serious health and societal effects. The program seeks to empower people and the community to make informed choices about their health and well-being by enhancing access to resources and services and boosting community awareness and education.

Specific Objectives

Raising public awareness and education about fentanyl abuse

The program’s goal involves raising community awareness and education regarding fentanyl misuse. The goal is to ensure that individuals in the community have the information and skills to detect addiction signs and symptoms and seek assistance when necessary. The proportion of community members who indicate increased knowledge regarding fentanyl misuse after participating in the program will serve as the outcome measure for this goal.

Increase access to resources and assistance for those suffering from addiction.

Another program aims to enhance access to resources and treatment for those battling addiction. The goal is to provide people with the help and tools they need to overcome addiction and live a healthy and rewarding life. The proportion of people who say they have more access to resources and services after participating in the program will be the outcome measure for this goal.

Minimize the stigma attached to addiction.

The program’s third specific goal is to decrease the stigma associated with addiction. The goal is to establish a welcoming and stigma-free atmosphere where those battling with addiction may seek assistance and support. The proportion of community members who report a reduced stigma associated with addiction after participating in the program will be the outcome measure for this aim.

Enhance community participation in tackling fentanyl abuse.

The goal is to organize and involve people in the community in taking action to address the core causes of addiction and lessen the suffering caused by fentanyl consumption. The proportion of community members who indicate increased engagement in tackling fentanyl misuse after participating in the program will serve as the outcome measure for this goal.

The program’s goals are to treat the core causes of fentanyl consumption and lessen the suffering caused by addiction. The goals are to raise community knowledge and education, improve access to resources and services, reduce stigma, and increase community participation. The outcome metrics for each objective will be used to assess the program’s efficacy in accomplishing its goals and objectives. To combat this serious issue facing the public health system in British Columbia, a community health promotion program for fentanyl consumption is crucial.

Evaluation of the Approaches

As stated, the two selected health promotion approaches are community organizing and service extension. Community organizing involves locating influential people in an area, forming alliances, and rallying the populace to work together to solve a problem. The rationale for incorporating the approach in the program is that it gives locals a chance to share their perspectives and take pride in the results of the health promotion strategy. Community organizing has the potential to equip people in the community to play an active role in combating fentanyl misuse. The approach strengthens the health practitioners’ ties with the British Columbia residents to manifest into longer-lasting, more successful initiatives to combat drug abuse.

In the assessment phase, the program requires that researchers evaluate to determine whether community leaders and organizations have a vested interest in combating fentanyl misuse. They would determine whether or not the community is open to and interested in community organizing and any obstacles to public involvement. At the planning stage, the researcher would collaborate with local authorities and groups to outline a strategy for community mobilization. Community meetings, focus groups, and outreach activities are all possible ways to educate the public on the dangers of fentanyl usage. Finally, at the evaluation stage, the community researcher would determine whether or not the program’s goals were met, such as greater community participation and engagement in tackling fentanyl usage (Fischer et al., 2018). Nevertheless, community organizing has some drawbacks, such as it takes a lot of time and money to get people involved and form relationships.

Service extension includes increased access to health services and resources in disadvantaged neighborhoods. The rationale for selecting this approach is that British Columbia exhibits low-income neighborhoods, homeless people, and disadvantaged communities with poor health facilities. One of the service extension strategy’s primary goals is to improve population health in neglected areas by increasing the availability of current services or creating whole new ones(Fischer et al., 2018). Those impacted by fentanyl consumption may benefit from having more access to services and assistance by incorporating service extension into the planned health promotion program.

During the assessment phase, the community researcher would record the current resources and determine whether or not they are sufficient to address the issue of fentanyl misuse. In the planning phase, the community researcher would collaborate with other healthcare professionals, community groups, and local businesses to create a strategic plan for service extension activities(Fischer et al., 2018). Finally, in the evaluation phase, the community researcher will evaluate the efficacy of service extension efforts in achieving program goals, including expanded access to services and enhanced quality of life for those whose lives have been disrupted by fentanyl usage.

Strengths and Limitations

Community Organizing

Strengths

Community organizing’s benefits include increasing program sustainability and effectiveness, fostering stronger community bonds, and equipping locals to combat fentanyl usage themselves (Sharma, 2021). Lastly, the community members may have their voices heard and learn to feel ownership over the program via the community organizing strategy.

Limitations

Community organizing has several drawbacks, such as it takes a lot of time and money to get people involved and form partnerships. Long-term participation in the community may sometimes take work.

Extension Services

Strengths

People who are struggling with the effects of fentanyl misuse will have access to the help they need. Expanding access to services has the added benefit of strengthening the bonds between healthcare practitioners and community groups, leading to better service coordination and delivery.

Limitations

Service extension is limited due to the time and energy needed to create and deploy new services. Long-term service provision may also be problematic in the absence of sufficient resources.

Roles of the Community Health Nurse

Effective program development, implementation, and assessment need the particular knowledge and abilities of the community health nurse. Hence, the effectiveness of the health promotion program designed to combat fentanyl misuse hinges on the contributions of community health nurses. There are various duties of the community health nurse within the program’s framework. Firstly, the community health nurse evaluates the community’s fentanyl abuse-related healthcare requirements and available services. The nurse collects information on the rate of fentanyl usage, its causes, and potential countermeasures. Secondly, the community health nurse help in planning the health promotion program in conjunction with community people, stakeholders, and partners (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2019). The nurse assesses if the program is culturally acceptable and relevant based on evidence-based practices and community health principles. Additionally, the community health nurse plays a crucial role in the program’s implementation by organizing events, rallying community members, and educating and supporting participants. The nurse uses their knowledge and skills in the therapeutic setting to aid those whose lives have been altered by fentanyl usage.

References

Buxton, J. A., Spearn, B., Amlani, A., Kuo, M., Lysyshyn, M., Young, S., … & Shapiro, A. (2019). The British Columbia Drug Overdose and Alert Partnership: Interpreting and sharing timely illicit drug information to reduce harms. Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being, 4(1), 4-9.

Fischer, B., Vojtila, L., & Rehm, J. (2018). The ‘fentanyl epidemic’in Canada–some cautionary observations focusing on opioid-related mortality. Preventive medicine, 107, 109-113.

Kuczyńska, K., Grzonkowski, P., Kacprzak, Ł., & Zawilska, J. B. (2018). Abuse of fentanyl: An emerging problem to face. Forensic science international, 289, 207-214.

Sharma, M. (2021). Theoretical foundations of health education and health promotion. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2019). Public health nursing e-book: Population-centered health care in the community. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Thomson, E., Lampkin, H., Maynard, R., Karamouzian, M., & Jozaghi, E. (2017). The lessons learned from the fentanyl overdose crises in British Columbia, Canada.

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