Naloxone Research Paper

Drug abuse is a rampant problem in the United States because drugs can be abused in a variety of different ways by people. The term drug overdose describes the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced. An overdose may result in a toxic state or death. People everyday are dying from consuming drugs that are harmful to their body. The drug epidemic is more important than people presume, many deaths can be prevented if more people spoke up about the topic and tried to help. America should deal with the drug epidemic that is taking over the country in several ways, one for example would be to increase the availability, affordability and access to drug treatment programs. Humans have the ability to help and prevent unneeded deaths, if citizens are able to stick together through the arduous

times, then we will be able to see massive change and hopefully save many lives.
An estimated eighty to ninety percent of individuals who could benefit from treatment are not getting it. Celebrities who can pay vast sums for private treatment programs should not be the only ones able to enter them. If we can increase the availability, affordability and access to drug treatment programs, then we could see more people trying to get help and change their ways. “The Affordable Care Act requires as an essential service element coverage and parity for mental health and substance use disorders, meaning that insurance benefits for addiction must be equivalent to any other covered general medical condition.” (Sederer) The opportunity for proper reimbursement for substance disorder treatment has never been better. If we allow the price to trickle down for citizens, we can see more people actually trying to go and change. Most of the time, the location and affordability sways drug users because they can’t get the money or reach the location when they need to. Easy access to treatment programs and leniency with payment allows someone in need more hope that they will be able to be assisted. The sooner we act by changing old rules to make way for better opportunities, the more we can spare lives and families.
One easy and potent way to help America deal with the drug epidemic is to employ tv, radio, and social media to educate families about drug-abuse prevention. “This method has been repeatedly shown to reduce the non-medical use of narcotic pain pills.” (usnews) If people start spreading awareness on how harmful the drugs are, then families or friends of someone in need might have a better understanding with the situation and try to do more to help instead of believing they don't need to. Social media is becoming popular more everyday and it is a great tool to reach and educate people especially youth. Everyone has a Twitter or Instagram and everyone listens to the radio, so by paying people to speak up more about the damaging effects and issues that come with drugs, then maybe people will realize it is not worth it or maybe someone could seek help. The plethora of ways employing social media or tv companies can help goes on, especially if you present your reasons as to why drugs are severe and not worth the time or money.
Unnecessary deaths can be averted, and we can do far better to protect against the personal, community and economic devastation that addiction wreaks on a society. One way we can do this is by exposing treatment center’s that are not providing treatment for substance abuse as falling below standards of quality of care. It is in the treatment centers best duty to aid the people that go and choose to receive help and some centers have been exposed over the years for not being as comprehensive as others. Some treatment facilities are purely in operation for money and the steps that it takes to help someone dealing with substance abuse are not taken. 12-Step recovery programs are important as a part of a comprehensive treatment program, but have low rates of effectiveness alone. Treatment centers need more than just basic steps to help someone, they should include multiple options to find out which works best on certain people because not everyone functions or thinks in the same way. “Treatment options must include motivational enhancement, cognitive-behavioral treatments, relapse prevention, family education and support, wellness efforts and medication to help prevent relapse and maintain sobriety.” (Lloyd) Just by using some of those effective methods, substance abusers might be one step closer to becoming drug free. This country, and others, have successfully faced and overcome many an epidemic and by making simple but long lasting changes, lives could be spared.
Drug abusers harm themselves, as well as their families and communities.

Drug abuse takes an enormous toll on our society at many levels. One way to help America deal with the drug epidemic is by reducing overdose deaths by providing easy access to naloxone. This may come off as a strange way to aid and assist but it will certainly support many people who are struggling. Naloxone, immediately blocks the deadly respiratory suppression caused by heroin, methadone and narcotic pain pills and it should be made easily available to first responders, families and those dependent on narcotics and their friends. “In 2014, overdose deaths from prescription pain pills reached nearly 19,000, a more than threefold increase from 2001. Over 47,000 people total overdosed that same year.” (Sederer) This simple but effective method should be made more easily available and known to the public so lives could be saved. Overdosing and losing a friend or family member can seem like the worst thing possible and for some it is, but with naloxone, the drug abuser could have a second chance on getting help and becoming

better.
The overall drug epidemic in America can be fixed, it can be reversed and transformed into something positive. No matter how much it is taking over America, no one should be left alone to face there addiction. There are a plethora of ways to help the drug epidemic which include providing easy access to naloxone, and employing tv, radio, and social media to educate families about drug-abuse prevention. Those are only two examples on how we can help people struggling with drug problems, the list does not stop there. If we can try to assist those in need throughout the next decades, our future could look prosperous and eventful.