If I’m a Junkie, So is your Grandma.
While we’ve all heard the term “opioid epidemic” as it pertains to addiction-related overdoses and deaths, how well do we understand it and the severity it continues to impose? According to its definition, the word “epidemic,” alone means “an outbreak of disease that spreads quickly and affects many individuals at the same time.” Not only does the phrase acknowledge opioid use to cause life-threatening illness, it emphasizes our naivety in realizing we’re all at risk. Understanding the nuanced differences between an epidemic in its traditional sense and the opioid crisis is crucial for developing effective, sustainable interventions in addressing the complexity of the issue.
Looking back on the drug’s public debut in the 1990’s, opioids were creatively marketed as somewhat of a “cure” to pain of any and all kinds. In fact, the FDA backed prescriptions like OxyContin based on their belief that the extended-release aspect would result in far less abuse based on its slower absorption rate (FDA). It’s easy to see why the most unlikely of individuals became abusers of the drug virtually overnight. By the 2000s, the FDA attempted (and failed) to implement any successful means of intervention or risk management in association to the drug, and thus, the epidemic continued.
When we become sick or injured and want to regain our health, we call the doctor… not a drug dealer. But what if your doctor prescribed you a medication meant to improve your health that would later be recognized as a means of acquiring a disease? A potentially fatal disease, at that.
The big shocker? The CDC identifies legally prescribed opioids as the cause of 45 deaths per day in 2021, approximately 17,000 individuals in total that year. What’s even more interesting is that even though the amount of opioids being prescribed to treat pain has increased, there is no evidence to account for Americans reporting an increase of pain. Healthcare providers alone were responsible for an upwards of 3,000 opioid related deaths in 1999; in 2021, that number multiplied by five.
The truth is, we’re all suffering from some form of pain. Addiction is a disease that doesn’t discriminate. If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid use disorder, please do not hesitate to reach out for help - start the conversation. The Alexander House is here for you and we remain committed to helping those in need even if it’s out of our hands. #StopTheStigma #WeDoRecover
