The opioid crisis was declared a national emergency in 2017 by the United States Department of Health and Services. Currently, 130 people a day die from opioid-related drug overdoses in the U.S. Why is America hooked on these drugs, and why are government restrictions only pushing addicts further down the wrong path?
In the late ’90s, pharmaceutical companies assured the medical community that opioid-based pain relievers were not addictive; this lead to a boom in the number of opioid painkillers prescribed. Increased number of prescriptions than point to widespread misuse, and soon it became clear that the drugs were highly addictive. In fact, to this day, 40% of opioid-related overdoses are from those prescribed by doctors. This is why San Diego County supervisors have taken the initiative to update plans combating prescription drugs.
In San Diego alone, more than 200 death and 7,000 emergency hospital visits were linked to opium usage. Additionally, Dean Sidelinger, deputy county public health officer, pointed out that as access to painkillers has been reduced, heroin and fentanyl overdoses have increased. In response to this, San Diego officials unanimously voted on updating The Prescription Drug Abuse Program, first introduced in 2010, by choosing to focus on new ways to reach addicts. The update will be emphasized ‘public health and evidence-based services’ within the county. Nicole Esposito, assistant clinical director of county Behavioral Services, told the board that the “plan includes community outreach programs, educational resources, and promotion of alternative pain management rather than new restrictive policies.”
San Diego has already made huge strides towards helping addicts receive rehabilitation services. Board Chairwoman Dianne Jacob pointed out that 25 years ago, San Diego County was known as the “methamphetamine capital” but the county organized strike force in response. That approach was recognized and later used as a national model. However, as users are moving towards more addictive and harmful drugs due to these strike forces, the city is now approaching this epidemic is a new way.
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon
