History of Addiction in America, Module 2
History of Addiction in America, Module 2
This module provides a panoramic view of addiction in America, especially to the opioid epidemic and its lasting impacts. Here is an overview of the important themes:
Historical Legacy of Opioids in America
The role of pharmaceutical companies, failure in policy-making, and lack of early intervention have shaped the opioid epidemics that occur today. Historical mistrust of addicts and viewing addiction as a moral failing and not a medical disease further stigmatized this issue.
Comparison of U.S. and Global Substance Use:
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/deaths-illicit-drugs?tab=table
Although opioid use is much higher within America compared to other countries worldwide, SUDs are on the rise. The opioid epidemic in the U.S. has also drawn much attention to issues of prescription practice, whereas in different areas of the world, other substances may be driving such crises.
Family Impact:
It tore families apart, and the opioid epidemic has caused emotional, financial, and psychological burdens. It often creates tragedies for the children, forming long generational cycles of trauma while keeping their families trapped in caregiving for those with SUD or becoming victims of overdose death consequences. Research shows that 1 in every 8 children (8.7 million) experience a parent with SUD. The most common adolescent age for children to live with parents with SUD ranges from 12 to 17 at just over 500,000. Even more shockingly, out of 20 million adults suffering from addiction, only 7.6% received treatment within the last year.
Stigma in Treatment and Recovery:
Stigma related to addiction is a significant barrier to seeking treatment. Most people see SUD as a moral failing rather than a chronic disease that discourages access to care and support. Besides, it interferes with healthcare providers' readiness to offer evidence-based treatments.
Treatment for SUD:
The treatment goals for SUD are inherently multi-faceted and include aims related to medication-assisted treatment, such as methadone or buprenorphine, behavioral therapy, and community support, to target the dual requirement of addressing both the physical dependency and psychological components of a long-term recovery process.
Harm Reduction Strategies:
Harm reduction strategies include the establishment of supervised injection sites, needle exchange programs, and naloxone distribution. While reducing the immediate harms of substance use was their aim, these efforts also allow people an avenue into treatment; there has also been success in reducing rates of overdose death and infectious disease.
Specific stories of addiction and recovery bring the opioid crisis issue to life. His story can help infer the importance of support systems, the challenges of relapse, and the impact of treatment and recovery.
Harm reduction strategies are helpful for the integration and, even more importantly, a deep-rooted understanding of stigma related to addiction. Encouraging the healthcare provider to be non-judgmental and supportive can lead to safer patient spaces.
This information places the significance of empathy in practice and makes political arguments for reform, advocating for better policy against punishment and evidence-based treatment, including harm reduction. Understanding patient experience within a historical context makes developing more effective and compassionate care strategies easier.
Have you ever had a patient or know someone who had an addiction after you really got to know them and then thought to yourself, wow, I really thought they were a great person? A stigma is created with the snap of a finger, and some people can't unsee beyond that point. There is such a lack of education when it comes to the nature of addiction. It's easy to bounce similar thoughts and beliefs by surrounding people, a decreased exposure, or being closed-minded towards individuals "taking the wrong path" or "initiating a gateway." Unfortunately, we live in a world where mental health is very misunderstood, leaving resources minimal for those in need. Many people who have a substance use disorder suffer from mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Stigmas can often create negative feelings, judgment, feelings of failure, and decreased self-esteem. Additionally, stigma can hurt the family members of people with substance use disorders by encouraging them to stay silent instead of seeking out the support they need to process their own feelings surrounding their loved one’s addiction.
No matter what part of healthcare one is working in, where one is working, or what specific population one is working with, addiction will always be there. To be a good provider, one must take each case as an individual possession and intervene professionally. Unfortunately, addiction is not going anywhere, but learning proper ways to help those in need is essential. Learning proper resources available to patients and providing extra help or ongoing education while maintaining a professional, non-biased approach is key.
References:
Warning Signs | EyesOpen. (2024). Eyesopenforme.org. https://eyesopenforme.org/warning-signs?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw05i4BhDiARIsAB_2wfBtx_PxvakTlTaw6DfVLGelW4U7JEWp0LmxwH-fRT3gXTqY6oPYzYUaAoYYEALw_wcB
Home | EyesOpen. (2024). Eyesopenforme.org. https://eyesopenforme.org/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw05i4BhDiARIsAB_2wfDZoMNUMIKh1KIwimXox8tPdaedXryIRHhRci9F4i7b_V4ZHWCDGGMaAl09EALw_wcB
Warning Signs | EyesOpen. (2024). Eyesopenforme.org. https://eyesopenforme.org/warning-signs?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw05i4BhDiARIsAB_2wfBtx_PxvakTlTaw6DfVLGelW4U7JEWp0LmxwH-fRT3gXTqY6oPYzYUaAoYYEALw_wcB
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