Policy Modification
Abstract
Overdose from drugs is one of the main causes of death from injury in the United States
of America. This is even more common for those going to prisons and jails. Additionally, there
are more than 2.4 million people in incarceration in the United States; most of these people are
there because of drug-related offenses. Over 200,000 active opioid abusers have each at least
been in the correctional system per year (Gordon et al,. 2014). Most of these overdose incidences
are mostly as a result of opioids; this includes illicit fentanyl, heroin, and prescription medicines.
To show how deadly this problem is, for example, 64,000 people died of a drug overdose in the
US in 2016. It has contributed to an unprecedented drop in the life expectancy of most
Americans, especially those who do not have a college degree. Recent data indicate that this
overdose crisis impacts every demographic group and that the rates of overdose are rapidly rising
more so among African Americans.
We have opted to look at this issue from a public health perspective, which can be used to
garner comprehensive national, state, and local response to the whole opioid crisis that is proving
very disruptive to our community and the world over as well. Looking at the crisis from the
perspective of the public health and this would require an interaction of various determinants, for
instance, structural factors, poor management of pain, inadequate access to treatment of
addiction and of course whether a change in policy should be called upon to help alleviate the
crisis (Larney et al,. 2009). We believe that criminal justice reform on the policies concerned
with the regulation of controlled substances would be the right approach in this case. Taking this
, approach will give all the stakeholders the greatest opportunity to make a lasting impact on the
issue of drug overdose and other related effects.
Introduction
The current crisis is mostly led by opioids use; actually, opioids were responsible for
42,000 deaths in 2016, which is a tremendous and gradual increase since 1999. The current
responses being employed are, to say the least not comprehensive enough, and they lack strategy
and vision as well. There have been health response initiatives that have shown a bit of promise;
they have focused on reducing the risk of overdose mostly among the vulnerable populations.
However, the implementation of such initiatives needs policies that are based on a wide
conceptualization of the drivers of this crisis.
To curb the increase of deaths from opioids overdoses is a complex issue that requires an
equally complex but decisive approach. We believe and suggest amending an already existing
policy in order to deal with the epidemic. The policy change with the right support will prove
effective at the local, state, and national levels. As upcoming health practitioners, we have seen
the impact that the opioid crisis has had on our society, and we are confident that pursuing this
change in policy would go a long way in trying to make a change. Both federal and national
governments have created policies that are aimed at addressing the issue, but unfortunately, they
have not been as effective as expected. As such, we have decided to concentrate on one of the
existing policy, and we aim to make changes to it, and we are convinced it would be better and
more precise. The current policies have mostly concentrated on making restrictions on the supply
and prescription of the drugs and also by giving those violating the set measures harsher
sentences once brought to justice (Bird et al,. 2015). As much as this is good and effective to
Abstract
Overdose from drugs is one of the main causes of death from injury in the United States
of America. This is even more common for those going to prisons and jails. Additionally, there
are more than 2.4 million people in incarceration in the United States; most of these people are
there because of drug-related offenses. Over 200,000 active opioid abusers have each at least
been in the correctional system per year (Gordon et al,. 2014). Most of these overdose incidences
are mostly as a result of opioids; this includes illicit fentanyl, heroin, and prescription medicines.
To show how deadly this problem is, for example, 64,000 people died of a drug overdose in the
US in 2016. It has contributed to an unprecedented drop in the life expectancy of most
Americans, especially those who do not have a college degree. Recent data indicate that this
overdose crisis impacts every demographic group and that the rates of overdose are rapidly rising
more so among African Americans.
We have opted to look at this issue from a public health perspective, which can be used to
garner comprehensive national, state, and local response to the whole opioid crisis that is proving
very disruptive to our community and the world over as well. Looking at the crisis from the
perspective of the public health and this would require an interaction of various determinants, for
instance, structural factors, poor management of pain, inadequate access to treatment of
addiction and of course whether a change in policy should be called upon to help alleviate the
crisis (Larney et al,. 2009). We believe that criminal justice reform on the policies concerned
with the regulation of controlled substances would be the right approach in this case. Taking this
, approach will give all the stakeholders the greatest opportunity to make a lasting impact on the
issue of drug overdose and other related effects.
Introduction
The current crisis is mostly led by opioids use; actually, opioids were responsible for
42,000 deaths in 2016, which is a tremendous and gradual increase since 1999. The current
responses being employed are, to say the least not comprehensive enough, and they lack strategy
and vision as well. There have been health response initiatives that have shown a bit of promise;
they have focused on reducing the risk of overdose mostly among the vulnerable populations.
However, the implementation of such initiatives needs policies that are based on a wide
conceptualization of the drivers of this crisis.
To curb the increase of deaths from opioids overdoses is a complex issue that requires an
equally complex but decisive approach. We believe and suggest amending an already existing
policy in order to deal with the epidemic. The policy change with the right support will prove
effective at the local, state, and national levels. As upcoming health practitioners, we have seen
the impact that the opioid crisis has had on our society, and we are confident that pursuing this
change in policy would go a long way in trying to make a change. Both federal and national
governments have created policies that are aimed at addressing the issue, but unfortunately, they
have not been as effective as expected. As such, we have decided to concentrate on one of the
existing policy, and we aim to make changes to it, and we are convinced it would be better and
more precise. The current policies have mostly concentrated on making restrictions on the supply
and prescription of the drugs and also by giving those violating the set measures harsher
sentences once brought to justice (Bird et al,. 2015). As much as this is good and effective to
