NRS 440 Topic 4 Assignment: Advocacy Through Legislation Using Template

In the Opioid Task Force 2019 Progress Report, the American Medical Association (AMA) highlighted efforts the medical community has modified including: “reductions in opioid prescriptions, increased use of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), enhanced education, increased co-prescribing of naloxone, and increasing numbers of physicians certified to provide buprenorphine in-office for the treatment of opioid use disorder” (ARMA, 2021). Additionally, naloxone, the medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid are available at any pharmacy in Arizona without a prescription. As discussed, despite these efforts, the number of opioid overdoses continues to rise. Making naloxone more affordable would impact the accessibility for a portion of the community in need. To maximize the efforts and decrease the incidence of overdose, Arizona should follow Oregon’s lead (Measure 110) and decriminalize the possession of small amounts of illegal drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin (Oregon Health Authority, 2021). This would decrease incarceration for possession and instill a fine. The monies collected from fines could be used to increase and provide funds to rehabilitation centers for addiction treatment. This would allow more focus on addiction as a medical health disorder rather than a crime. “A survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that as many as 90 percent of people who most need drug rehab do not receive it” (American Addiction Center, 2021)