Innovations in combatting the Opioid Epidemic

Opioid is a special class of drugs that are often applied in the management of pain (Dowell et al. Research depicts that over the past years from 2000-2009 opioid prescription massively increased by 68% (Okie, 2010). The increase in opioid prescription led to the overdose of some opioid drugs like fentanyl and hydrocodone that has resulted in more deaths due to the abuse and overdose of Opioid drugs. In fact, according to research the years 2013-2014 recorded 9% of an overdose of the opioid prescription deaths (Dowell et al. From the year 2015 United States has seen an increase in the number of hydrocodone and other opioids that has consequently increased the morbidity and mortality which continue to rise increasing crises for families and the entire country.

Recently the death toll skyrocketed a situation that brought a lot of pressure to the national government until president Trump had to declare the opioid epidemic as a health emergency (Christie et al. Opioid and other drug abuse are rated as the leading cause of deaths particularly to people below the age of 50 years. Public health officers reported that the current opioid epidemic is the worst kind of epidemic that has ever happened in the history of America because of the staggering death rate caused every day (Nelson et al. The abuse of opioid substances like hydrocodone among others prescriptions that hamper the social, economic as well as the health conditions of the society. Research shows that globally about 35 million people abuse opioid with almost 2.

The number of deaths associated with Opioid overdose greatly increased. In the year 2015, about 33,000 people were reported dead (Rudd, et al. However, in the year 2016, the number of deaths skyrocketed to about 59500, this is one of the largest deaths ever recorded in the history of the USA (Zolot, 2017). The problem has emerged into a crisis since it is bringing massive death to family members and communities. The problem has become a tragedy since it is tearing apart families as different people are losing their beloved members due to opioid overdose (Post, 2018). The government under the leadership of President Trump in collaboration with the C. D. C have delved plans that will help to combat this problem (Christie et al. The government has proposed funds that will help in the recovery and treatment processes, particularly to the addicts.

On the other hand, the C. Moreover, many addicts do suffer from diabetes as well as other chronic conditions and heart diseases. When all these problems are considered then the grant is not adequate. While different alternatives and plans are being sought, the government has come to an agreement that they need a working formula that will change the game. The government has created open room for changes that will bring about a system that will help resolve the problem (Reinl, 2017). Problem statement Opioid epidemic has become a real threat to individuals, families, and communities in the USA. Specific Objectives • To determine the effect of innovations in combating the opioid epidemic. • To determine the extent that innovations contribute to combating the opioid epidemic • To determine in what ways does innovation help in combating the opioid epidemic Research Questions • What is the effect of innovation in combating opioid epidemic? • How effective are innovations in combating opioid epidemic? The Scope of the Study The study seeks to find out the effects of innovations in combating the opioid epidemic in the USA.

The researcher critically evaluated the key issues of the opioid epidemic and the manner in which innovation can help combat the epidemic. Innovations will be the main focus. However, the study did not focus on other drugs associated with the opioid. Over the past 15 years, the use of opioid has skyrocketed due to the availability and affordability of the drug. The drug can now be acquired at a much cheaper price than it had in the 1990’s (Baker, 2017). This has resulted in the overdose prescription that has resulted to even more deaths. Since 1999 the death toll has been gradually increasing every year (Baker, 2017). However, the most unfortunate scenario is that the drug has some addictive properties which cause the patients to develop dependence problems towards the drug.

The aggressive advertisement of the opioids drugs by the pharmaceutical companies also increased pressure on doctors to apply the use of opioid as pharmaceutical companies recommended the drugs claiming that they have little risk compared to other drugs. Moreover, the patients also started asking for opioids as an alternative to other alternative therapies that were more expensive than the opioid drugs, as such the doctors had to resolve to use opioid based on the situation and not by choice. The increase prescription of the opioids drugs by the doctors led to a larger volume of deaths that was directly proportional to the number of prescription. An increase in the use of the opioids led to an increase in users as a lot of people started using heroin and other illegal drugs when the drugs they were getting was not enough to quench their developing addiction.

People argue that they did not develop an opioid epidemic were it not have been for the massive supply of opioid that started with pharmaceutical companies advocating for its use (Wilkerson et al. It is estimated that more than 89 people die every day due to the overdose of opioid. Expert states that the death toll will keep shooting high if nothing is done to control the problem since millions of American have been reported addicted to the drug, this implies that something must urgently be done to salvage the situation otherwise the states risk losing even more people’s lives. The problem has reached a high level such that it is posing some other risk to public health, and dragging the economy as budgets that should be used for other developmental purposes is diverted to help tackle the crises.

Recently, the government has delved a plan to reduce and suffocate the illegal supply of drug into the country by foreigners as well as the local suppliers, this plan is helping to control the rate of prescription while at the same time helping in the fight against narcotic drugs on local as well as global scale. Importantly, the federal government, as well as state official, are now focusing their efforts on treating drug users and not punishing them as it has been the trend over the past years. The target population will yield a more reliable and credible information about the population. The target population comprised of the public particularly those in American big cities. The researcher will gather the necessary information of the public in the different city located within the USA.

Sampling procedure The study will adopt a purposive sampling method sampling a total of 35 respondents cross different cities within the USA. Different people will be sampled randomly from both genders, class, and age. In the study, both inferential, as well as descriptive statistics including simple linear regression, was applied to analyze the existing relationship between the variables. Limitations of the Study One of the most significant limitations of the study is the fact that the research will focus on one city. Also, the study only considered taking a sample of one city within one limited geographical region. There is a sense of biasedness outlined in the sample collected. Even though generalized results are used, the sample could be distributed across different regions across the country.

A properly done study always considers this aspect and ensures that all the information collected is free from any biasedness. Throughout the study, honesty and integrity will be highly maintained by providing truthful information. Integrity is the major thing that maintains the research study and guarantees the proper use of the collected information. CHAPTER FOUR Data Analysis, Presentation and Interpretation The chapter gives a summary of the findings obtained from primary data. The information obtained will be tabulated to give a clear result to be analyzed as well as the use of pie charts, and bar graphs. & Above 8 23 Totals 35 100 Figure 3: Bar graph for Age Groups The results show that 14 percent of respondents were 10-19 years, 29 percent were 20-29 years while 34 percent were 30-39 years.

23 percent of respondents were above 40 years. This indicates that majority of respondents were 30-39 years which was the middle age group. Highest Level of Education The level of education was one of the major components that influenced the response obtained. The following findings were obtained: Table 4: Highest Education Level Education level Frequency Percentage (%) High school 7 20 College 8 23 University 20 57 Totals 35 100 Figure 4: Bar Graph Showing Highest Level of Education Only 20 percent of the respondents were having high school qualifications, 23 percent went to college and 57 percent of the respondents completed university education. Figure 6: Bar graph showing participant’s knowledge experience on opioid Effect of innovation in combating opioid epidemic On whether innovation impacted the control of opioid epidemic, the following were the result: Table 7: Effect of innovation status Frequency Percentage (%) Yes 27 77 No 8 33 Totals 35 100 Figure 7: Effect of innovation The study findings indicated that majority of respondents’ 77 percent felt that innovation is effective in combating the opioid epidemic, this implies that when scientific innovations is used there is a high chance that opioid epidemic will be combated.

Only 33 percent of the respondents did not agree with the fact that innovation was a necessary tool for improved combating opioid epidemic. Effectiveness of innovations The ratings on the effectiveness of innovations in combating opioid epidemic, the response was as follows: Table 8: Effectiveness of innovations innovations Frequency Percentage Excellent - - Good 10 29 Fair 20 57 Poor 5 14 Total 35 100 Figure 8: Bar graph showing: Effectiveness of innovations The study findings indicated that 29 percent of respondents felt innovation was good, 57 percent felt it was fair while 14 percent felt it as poor. The majority therefore felt innovation in combating the epidemic was fair. None of the respondents felt that innovations was excellent. The majority, therefore, felt innovation in combating the epidemic was fair. None of the respondents felt that innovations were excellent.

On the effectiveness of innovations, the majority of the people believe it is good and fair. This implies that there is still a lot to be done as far as innovations are concerned. Since no participant believed that innovation has so far delivered any excellence. However, it is important that the federal government to channel their efforts and adequate resources to design innovations in such a way that it will increase effectiveness and other possible alternative options for treatment. For innovations to be effective there are several other aspects that need to be considered to make improve the ability to control opioid use as well as influencing other multiple outcomes that are negatively affected. More importantly, it is important to know whether the innovations are effective and cost-effective.

Future studies Currently, there are some challenges in examining standard innovations. People are finding it hard to measure treatments into particular common units and thus hindering evaluations.  Jama, 317(11), 1117-1118. Bates, B. NIDA Targets Young Opioid Abusers.  Clinical Psychiatry News, 38(6), 11-11. Birnbaum, H.  Pain medicine, 12(4), 657-667. Calif, R. M. , Woodcock, J. , & Ostroff, S. F. Changes in prevalence of prescription opioid abuse after introduction of an abuse-deterrent opioid formulation.  Pain Medicine, 15(3), 440-451 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC. Vital signs: overdoses of prescription opioid pain relievers---United States, 1999--2008.  MMWR. Dart, R. C. , Surratt, H. L. , Cicero, T. Degenhardt, L. , Bucello, C. , Mathers, B. , Briegleb, C. , Ali, H.  BMJ: British Medical Journal (Online), 343. Dowell, D. , Haegerich, T. M. , & Chou, R. A flood of opioids, a rising tide of deaths.