The selected population health topic is the opioid epidemic. Opioid abuse is described as prolonged use, non-medical use, misuse, and use of opioids without medical supervision, resulting in opioid dependence, addiction, or opioid use disorder (OUD) due to the addictive properties of opioids (Bolshakova et al., 2019). In the US, opioid abuse has reached epidemic levels, becoming a significant public health issue that must be addressed (Upp & Waljee, 2020). The opioid crisis is associated with increased admission rates in psychiatric clinics and the deaths of millions of Americans. Thus, this pandemic has crippled Americans’ health, social life, and economic status. Opioid abuse and addiction are expected to rise further in the US and its neighborhood in the future.
The dramatic increase in the US is associated with social determinants of health (SDoH) factors. According to Sulley and Ndanga (2020), OUD presentation in psychiatric clinics significantly depends on socioeconomic status. Compared to high-income communities, OUD presentations are few in low-income societies (Sulley & Ndanga, 2020). Patients’ willingness to seek inpatient treatment for opioid abuse significantly depends on the stigma associated with OUD presentation and economic status. Low-income communities are less likely to seek professional treatment for OUD than societies with high income due to the stigma attributed to OUD diagnoses in their residential area (Sulley & Ndanga, 2020). Additionally, low income levels hinder these individuals from seeking professional medical care. Consequently, the prevalence of opioid-related deaths is significantly high in low-income communities.
US presidents introduced agendas to address opioid crises in the country. First, President Trump introduced an Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse in the US in 2018, which was assigned US$6 billion to address the opioid crisis (Wen & Sadeghi, 2020). This program was designed to confront driving forces contributing to the opioid crises in the country. First, the initiative intended to create awareness regarding the dangers of opioid abuse among Americans. Secondly, President Trump’s government focused on regulating the importation of opioids into the country. A strong wall would be built along the Mexican border, the most significant supplier of opioids and other illegal drugs to the US. Thus, this initiative would reduce the amount of drugs entering the US from Mexico. President Trump’s government also planned to eliminate illegal immigrant drug traffickers from the country. Lastly, the government would provide more effective treatment options to persons struggling with opioid addiction. Additionally, President Obama combated the Opioid Epidemic in the country by signing the Bipartisan Bill (Grogan et al., 2020). The president signed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act on July 22 (Grogan et al., 2020). This legislation focuses on regulating opioid prescription and US communities affected by the heroin epidemic. The bill would limit the misuse of opioids in the country and enhance treatment for Americans struggling with opioid addiction.
I agree with previous presidents’ efforts to fight opioid crises in the country. However, current initiatives and programs for fighting the opioid pandemic in the US should be adjusted to achieve the desired outcomes. In particular, scarce resources should be distributed equally to enhance access to mental healthcare among low-income earners Americans living in rural areas. Sulley and Ndanga (2020) reported that social justice dynamics must be revisited to effectively allocate resources to low-income communities and Americans below the poverty line nationwide. Therefore, creating a more equitable society in terms of resource allocation will enhance access to professional medical care among Americans struggling with opioid abuse, curbing opioid crises nationwide.
References
Bolshakova, M., Bluthenthal, R., & Sussman, S. (2019). Opioid use and misuse: health impact, prevalence, correlates, and interventions. Psychology & Health, 34(9), 1105-1139.
Grogan, C. M., Bersamira, C. S., Singer, P. M., Smith, B. T., Pollack, H. A., Andrews, C. M., & Abraham, A. J. (2020). Are policy strategies for addressing the opioid epidemic partisan? A view from the states. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 45(2), 277-309.
Sulley, S., & Ndanga, M. (2020). Inpatient opioid use disorder and social determinants of health: a nationwide analysis of the national inpatient sample (2012-2014 and 2016-2017). Cureus, 12(11), 1-7.
Upp, L. A., & Waljee, J. F. (2020). The opioid epidemic. Clinics in Plastic Surgery, 47(2), 181-190.
Wen, L. S., & Sadeghi, N. B. (2020). The opioid crisis and the 2020 US election: crossroads for a national epidemic. The Lancet, 396(10259), 1316-1318.
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