[Note: This posting is a continuation of a report on
the development of a civics unit of study.
This unit is directing students to formulate informed positions on the
opioid epidemic. Presently, this
development, in real time, is reporting a set of factoids on the
responsibilities Americans bear for its tragic consequences.]
This blog is currently about tracing the responsibility of Americans
in the initiation and continuation of the opioid epidemic. To this point, specifically in the last
posting, this account has traced how heightened use of opioids came about. It, for example, pointed out the role the
government and medical profession played in encouraging and prescribing these
drugs. Attention now shifts to the actual
acquisition of opioids.
To assist in
this inquiry, one can cite a number of studies.
In turn, these studies are not totally in agreement with each
other. An earlier study in 2013 reported
that opioids were being attained, at a 74% rate, from a variety of
sources: a doctor, a friend, or perhaps
a relative. The origins of these sources
were often a clinic or one its workers.[1] But since then there have been evidence of
other sources.
The biggest
“scoundrel” is prescription providers.
Usually that would be a doctor or a clinician. In addition, there has been illegal sources
playing a significant part. Here the
drugs most often provided has been heroin and illicit fentanyl. A lot of this portion of that market are
users who, under prescription regimens (even if abused), became addicted. More recent policies, given the resulting
drug problem, have restricted legal sourcing and, those who are already
addicted have turned to illicit sellers of these two opioids.[2]
An interesting
statistic is that in 2015, fifty percent of drug overdoses did not occur from
taking prescribed opioid drugs – which on the surface seems to cast an
accusatory finger at their users – most of them got started with a lawful
prescription.[3] So, it is difficult to say that those who early
on were caught up in this nightmare of opioid abuse, are totally at fault for
the ensuing epidemic. As has been either
hinted or right out claimed, both the medical profession and the drug companies
can be held highly responsible for what has resulted.
But this
cannot be said for how the epidemic has progressed. Since the early days, other evidence has
emerged that shifts more of the responsibility to newer users. In 2018, a study informs that up to 75% of
opioid abusers began using that drug without a legitimate prescription. Apparently, as the opioids became popular for
their inducement of euphoric highs, consumers did not begin obtaining and using
the opioids for medical reasons but for recreational purposes. Therefore, one can judge these newer users as
being more responsible.
As such, they,
to a great degree, are causing many deleterious effects associated with this
epidemic. Among them are high death
rates, higher incidences of spreading communicable diseases, and the various
economic costs attributable to the epidemic.
These effects take on various forms.
Some are direct, some are indirect costs.
Currently, more people die of
overdoses – in 2015, 33,000 – than die of car accidents. Heroin deaths outnumber of deaths caused by
gun fire.[4] Economic and tragically intense emotional
costs are those emanating from orphan children who find themselves without
parents due to overdosing.[5]
As one analyzes the costs, they pop
up in varying forms. So, reported in
2013, once all the costs attributed to the health care, funds expended on
related criminal justice expenses, and other related costs are totaled, that
figure was $78.5 billion. Again, that
was a while ago. The progression of the
epidemic has grown significantly since then.
For example, just two years later, the estimated cost rose to $504
billion.
So, overall there is enough blame to
spread among various parties: the
pharmaceutical companies, medical professionals, slack family members and
friends who do not secure their opioids, and the users themselves. The last area of historical facts this
account will review – in the next posting – will be demographic information.
[1] Edward A. Shipton, Espeth I. Shipton, and Ashleigh J.
Shipton, “A Review of the Opioid Epidemic:
What Do We Do About It?” Pain and Therapy, June 2018, vol. 7, no.
1, 23-36, accessed July 24, 2018, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40122-018-0096-7
.
[2] Jonathan Reiss, “Opioid Crisis: What People Don’t Know about Heroin,” May 18,
2018, accessed July 24, 2018, https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/opioid-crisis-what-people-dont-know-about-heroin-630430/
.
[3] Edward A. Shipton, Espeth I. Shipton, and Ashleigh J.
Shipton, “A Review of the Opioid Epidemic:
What Do We Do About It?”
[4] Christopher Ingraham, “Heroin Deaths Surpass Gun
Homicides for the First Time, CDC Data Shows,” December 8, 2016, accessed July
24, 2018, https://www.washingtonpost.com/
. A reported number of US deaths in 2016
was 64,070.
[5] Jeanne Whalen, “The Children of the Opioid Crisis,” The
Wall Street Journal, December 15, 2016, accessed July 24, 2018, https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-children-of-the-opioid-crisis-1481816178.
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