By Kate Leo
The Opioid Epidemic began in the 1990s when big pharmaceutical companies started to convince medical providers that opioid pain relievers would not be addictive and that it was ok to prescribe them at an increased rate. However, they could not have been more wrong. Opioids are declared safe to use for a short period of time for pain relief, but the problem is that because it generates a “high” with this relief, people can easily misuse opioids and become addicted. We are in an epidemic with opioids because of this widespread distribution in the late 1990s, and North Carolina has especially troublesome numbers in comparison to other states.
The Opioid Epidemic is an issue in North Carolina. Four out of the top 25 cities abusing opioids are in North Carolina. According to the NC Opioid Dashboard, in 2018, almost five North Carolinians died every day from an accidental opioid overdose. This issue has been ongoing, as, from 1999-2018, more than 14,500 people died from an overdose. North Carolina recognizes this issue and has implemented an Opioid Action Plan. This plan includes reducing the oversupply of prescription opioids, decreasing prescriptions for these drugs, increasing community awareness and prevention, making naloxone (a drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose) more readily available, expanding treatment and recovery systems of care, and measuring the effectiveness of these interventions.
According to the NCDHHS, opioid dispensation decreased by 24%, drugs used to treat opioid addiction increased by 15%, there were 10% fewer ED visits for overdoses, and over 12,000 people have been treated with addiction. Progress has been made because of this action plan and its positive effects, but I believe there is room to improve as new addiction and overdose still occur. This epidemic is especially relevant now with COVID-19. The nation has seen an increased use of drugs since the pandemic began, and so we need to ensure that there are proper measures in place to deal with addiction and the effects it has on communities.
Sources:
“North Carolina's Opioid Action Plan.” NCDHHS, www.ncdhhs.gov/about/department-initiatives/opioid-epidemic/north-carolinas-opioid-action-plan.
“Opioid Overdose Crisis.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 10 June 2020, www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis.
“Opioids.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 14 Jan. 2021, www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids
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