Public Health: Countering Opioid Overdoses
Problem
The opioid epidemic is a severe public health crisis that must be attended to with urgency in the U.S. It has spread in due part to the problem of care providers over-prescribing strong and addictive Continue Reading...
Abstract
Drug overdose has become the leading cause of death in the United States, and the majority of overdose fatalities involve opioids. Both legal (by doctor prescription) and illicit opioids are implicated in the current public health epidemic. Continue Reading...
Legislative Letter
Jason M. Lewis, Senator
Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health
State House
Tel [HIDDEN]
Dear Senator Lewis,
A public health emergency was declared by Governor Deval Patrick on March 27, 2014, due to the dramatic rise i Continue Reading...
The Problem of Overdosing with Opioids
Introduction
By definition, any incident of overdosing is a problem, but the problem is especially severe in the case of opioids since these can be life-threatening. Moreover, the United States has experienced a Continue Reading...
Purpose
The purpose of this executive summary is to provide an overview of the issue of the opioid epidemic in the U.S. and how supply-side factors have played a role in the spread of this epidemic. According to Pacula and Powell (2018) in the Journa Continue Reading...
Tylenol Overdose
Health Sciences 101
The Health Impact of Acetaminophen Overdose
Acetaminophen (APAP) is a common over-the-counter (OTC), antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic that is more commonly known as Tylenol®, a product of Johnson & Continue Reading...
Treatment Strategies for Heroin/Opioid AddictionIntroductionThis paper examines research on treatment strategies for heroin/opioid addiction, with a focus on three specific approaches: antagonist therapy, aversive therapy, and anti-drug vaccine resea Continue Reading...
Future of Marijuana in America:
Marijuana or cannabis was first identified by the Chinese in c. 2737 BCE and has since been used for medicinal purposes for millennia. The introduction or arrival of medicinal cannabis in America was characterized wi Continue Reading...
Mexico faces an array of drug-related problems ranging from production and transshipment of illicit drugs to corruption, violence, and increased internal drug abuse. Powerful and well-organized Mexican organizations control drug production and traff Continue Reading...
Prescription Drug Abuse
The overall point of conversation when speaking of prescription drugs in the public and political sphere has usually focused on cost and/or ease of access among all Americans. The overall points of conversation relating to dr Continue Reading...
Because numerous clinics decline to offer sleeping medication to the individual withdrawing from opiates, many addicts discharge themselves early from the treatment process (Carver). In regard to treatment, Carver notes:
Detoxification technology i Continue Reading...
Addiction
Methadone Maintenace
Methadone
Methadone Maintenance
Methadone maintenance is essentially the use of methadone over a period of time for the treatment of individuals who are addicted to opioid drugs such as heroin. In more formal terms Continue Reading...
Usually, both physical and psychological components need to be addressed. Byrd (2001) explains, the function of brain cells (neurons) is affected when a drug is used repeatedly over a long period of time. Each neuron produces and releases chemicals Continue Reading...
Teen Drug Abuse - Prescription or Not
Differences between nonalcoholic offspring of alcoholics (family history positive, FHP) and matched offspring of nonalcoholics (family history negative, FHN) have been identified on a variety of behavioral, cogn Continue Reading...
Addictive Nature of Vicodin
According to statistics provided by the Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated one and one-half million people in the United States started taking prescription painkillers for "non-medical" purposes in 199 Continue Reading...
Challenges Faced in Preparing for the Debate
Four challenges I faced in preparing for the debate were: 1) understanding the logic of my own argument—i.e., identifying the premise, assuring myself of its validity, and constructing my argument so Continue Reading...
Suicide
Rates of suicide for adults between 35 and 64 years in the United States
According to date from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC&P), suicide rates among adults aged between 35 and 64 years are on the rise. The period Continue Reading...
OTC and Prescription Drugs
Curbing the Power of Drugs
Everyone knows about the enslaving effects of substance abuse and addiction. By now, everyone knows that addiction is a compulsive physical or psychological to take in more and more of a particu Continue Reading...