The opioid crisis in the United States has reached an incredibly alarming level, destroying countless lives and tearing apart families. This issue began back in the 1990s, involving prescription pain medications. Since then, it has only continued to grow in severity and has reached the scale of an epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), opioid addiction and opioid-related overdoses claimed the lives of over 80,000 Americans in 2021 alone.
This is an issue that has devastated many lives and will likely continue to do so until major changes are made to address the many different complicated factors that played a role in this epidemic. It is important to get to the root of the issue and the role that communities must take to combat this deadly problem. It is also important to consider what we can do to spread awareness about the dangers of opioids. Finally, pushing for more mental health and addiction resources is a critical part of the fight to reduce the prevalence of opioid addiction in the United States.
At Profound Treatment in Los Angeles, California, opioid addiction is one of the many types of substance use disorders we treat. We recognize that this battle can be isolating and incredibly discouraging. However, we are here to offer hope and a path of healing.
Understanding the Rise of Opioid Addiction
One of the reasons that opioid addiction has become such a serious and alarming public health crisis is because of the extreme level that it has risen throughout the years. According to the Standford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), more than 645,000 Americans died as a result of opioid overdoses from 1999 to 2021. However, that number has especially increased in recent years. The growth doesn’t seem to be slowing down, leading to concerns about what that number might be in the next couple of years.
This crisis doesn’t affect just one specific group of people. It can affect people of all ages, backgrounds, genders, and ethnicities. Addiction does not discriminate.
The opioid crisis has also taken a toll on the healthcare system and law enforcement agencies. It has led to an increase in emergency room visits and hospital stays. Law enforcement works hard to keep people safe by keeping these illicit drugs off the street. However, the issue has gotten so out of control that it can be difficult to keep up.
Understanding the Scope of the Opioid Addiction Epidemic
Despite what many people think, the opioid crisis is actually not a new issue in the United States. It has taken place in a series of three waves, going back to the 1990s, that the CDC has classified as follows:
- The First Wave was from the 1990s to the 2010s. This was when there was an increase in opioid prescriptions throughout the United States. It led to a lot of people becoming dependent upon these kinds of drugs.
- The Second Wave took place from 2010 through 2013. This was when heroin use significantly increased as a result of people looking for cheaper alternatives to prescription opioids. These were people who were already addicted to prescription opioids, likely after becoming dependent upon them completely by accident.
- Finally, we have the Third Wave, which began in 2013 and has continued to this day. Because of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, the rate of opioid-related overdoses has risen significantly and continues to do so. Fentanyl has quickly become the opioid that is claiming the most American lives. In addition to claiming lives, it has also increased the levels of homelessness and ravaged major cities.
Determining the Roots of the Opioid Crisis
When looking at a crisis of this magnitude, we can’t help but ask how we got here. How did this issue get so out of control, and why isn’t more being done to stop it? This is a complex issue, and there are a lot of factors that have played into it throughout the years.
One of the root causes of the opioid crisis is the type of pharmaceutical marketing that was used back in the 1990s. At the time, large, well-known pharmaceutical companies began marketing hardcore painkillers like OxyContin as safe. They did not often discuss how addictive and dangerous they can be. As a result, this misled both doctors and patients, and many people began misusing these types of medications.
Another root cause is the overprescription of opioid painkillers, particularly in the years leading up to 2012. Far too many doctors were prescribing opioids to help manage pain. Many of the people who were being prescribed these medications, which they might not have even truly needed, wound up addicted to them.
The government and agencies like the CDC are now taking critical measures to regulate the distribution of these incredibly powerful drugs. However, considering the alarming level of opioid overdoses that continue to plague the country, many say this regulation is coming way too late. These regulations include special guidelines for doctors to use when prescribing painkillers. This will hopefully help decrease the issue of overprescription.
Finally, it is important not to overlook the mental health aspect of the opioid addiction crisis. Some people become addicted to opioids completely by accident after being prescribed them for legitimate medical needs. However, others turn to them as a way of coping with undiagnosed or untreated mental health issues. This could include everything from anxiety to depression, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The Role of Chronic Pain in Opioid Dependence
Today, we know that opioids should be reserved only for those who are experiencing severe, continuous pain. For example, this could be someone battling a serious illness like cancer or someone who is in recovery from a major surgery. They should not be prescribed to someone who is only experiencing minor chronic pain. When prescribing opioids, it is important for the doctor to carefully consider the patient’s unique situation and whether the potential benefits outweigh the possible risks.
In the past, it was common for doctors to prescribe opioids to people who were experiencing acute or chronic pain. As a result, many of these patients would quickly become dependent upon these drugs and wouldn’t be able to stop taking them. Over time, they would build up a tolerance to them and would need more and more of them to experience the same pain-relieving effects. This is what increases the risk of overdose and death.
Today, most doctors will instead focus on safer pain management alternatives to prescription opioids. These treatment methods are things that are not only non-addictive but will hopefully help the patient to experience more complete healing and pain relief. Some examples of this could include physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or non-opioid prescription medications.
The Role of Fentanyl and Synthetic Opioids in the Crisis
To understand the true gravity of the opioid addiction crisis, it is important to understand the role that fentanyl has played. Fentanyl is part of a new deadly wave of synthetic opioids that is slamming the United States. This is a particularly critical issue because fentanyl is much more potent than other painkillers like morphine. It is also much more deadly and has become the leading cause of opioid-related deaths in the United States.
It takes only a shockingly small amount of fentanyl, as little as just 2mg, to be fatal. Not only that but fentanyl is manufactured illegally, often in other countries like China and Mexico. It is then trafficked into the United States. Because of this secretive, illegal manufacturing, it has become even harder to keep this dangerous drug off the street.
There is also the issue of the fact that fentanyl is often combined with other illicit substances. In other words, someone might take a drug believing it to be heroin or cocaine and not realize that it is laced with fentanyl. This often leads to unintentional overdoses and deaths.
Understanding What Changes Need to be Made for an Opioid-Addiction-Free Future
There are a lot of major changes that will need to be made for the United States to one day enjoy an opioid-addiction-free future. This will involve serious steps to combat fentanyl-related deaths. For example, stronger law enforcement against fentanyl trafficking can help prevent this deadly drug from entering the United States in the first place. However, it is also important to spread awareness about the dangers of synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
It will take time and effort to rid the United States of synthetic opioids altogether. However, in the meantime, there are still steps that can be taken that can at least help prevent further deaths. This involves educating the public about what you should do if you encounter someone you think may be experiencing an opioid overdose. It could also include making sure that there is more access to naloxone (Narcan), which is used to reverse opioid overdoses.
There will also need to be even stronger regulations regarding opioid prescriptions. This can help prevent the risk of overprescription, accidental dependency, and addiction. Perhaps most importantly, more federal funding can help combat this crisis by making sure there is enough money being dedicated to addiction treatment and research. Those who are struggling must have the resources available to them to get the help they need.
Finally, mental health resources are critical in the fight against this epidemic. Many people don’t understand that addiction is a disorder and that it should be treated as such. Mental health and substance misuse are closely related. Thus, it is important to tackle both aspects together in order to give someone the best shot at avoiding relapse.
How Treatment and Support Can Save Lives and Halt the Opioid Epidemic Crisis
Proper treatment and strong support for those who are struggling can save lives and even halt the opioid crisis. We know that those who struggle with opioid addiction did not choose this difficult battle. In addition, we know that there are evidence-based treatments that can help them get better. Making sure they have access to these treatments is critical.
There are a variety of different treatment options that can benefit someone struggling with opioid addiction. Medication-assisted treatment can be especially effective in the early days of detox by helping to manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Later on, behavioral therapy methods such as CBT or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can also help. These options can help the person to identify what underlying emotional issues they may be struggling with that led to this addiction.
Finally, as the person works toward maintaining their sobriety moving forward, a strong support system will be extremely valuable. They can find this support through 12-Step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA). These programs can help hold them accountable and help them continue to learn and grow in recovery. Peer recovery coaches can also play an important role in guiding an individual through recovery.
Not just one of these treatment methods, but all of them combined, can be extremely beneficial in helping someone to enjoy long-term sobriety.
The Role of Communities in Combating Opioid Addiction
All communities have to do their part to take steps to combat this crisis. This includes focusing on both prevention strategies and harm reduction measures.
For example, a prevention strategy could include more public education campaigns to help educate young people about the dangers of opioids. Communities could also consider including more safe disposal sites around town for unused opioids to be dropped off. This can prevent these drugs from ending up in the wrong hands and potentially being misused. Incorporating prescription drug monitoring programs can also help to prevent the overprescription of opioids.
Some harm reduction measures that could help curb the opioid crisis may include needle exchange programs. These programs help to prevent the spread of disease. Supervised injection sites can also be helpful in preventing potential opioid overdoses.
How Profound Treatment Can Provide Healing and Hope
If you’re struggling with opioid addiction, you may feel discouraged, helpless, and as if there is no path forward. However, there is hope, and our team at Profound Treatment in Los Angeles, California, can show you a new path forward. We use a variety of evidence-based treatments to help those who are struggling with opioid addiction. This treatment can be personalized to fit your specific needs and situation.
From the moment you step inside our facility, you will be greeted with compassion, dignity, and respect. We will walk with you each step of the way, ensuring you always know what to expect from the next step of the process.
Beginning with our detox program, we will help you safely manage your withdrawal symptoms while keeping you as comfortable as possible. From that point, we will work with you as you navigate inpatient or outpatient treatment, depending on your needs. If you’re struggling with a co-occurring disorder, we’ll help to provide dual-diagnosis treatment that will effectively help improve your mental health.
We understand that a major aspect of complete healing from addiction is identifying the root cause of the issue. This is the reason why you may have turned to substance misuse in the first place. For example, this could be unresolved trauma or an untreated mental health issue. We can work with you to identify and address this issue.
Finally, at Profound Treatment, we don’t just want to help you get sober and then send you on your way. We want to ensure that you have every tool and resource possible at your disposal to enjoy a long, happy, and successful recovery. Part of this involves working with you on a long-term recovery plan. This plan will detail all the steps you need to take upon leaving our facility to protect and maintain your sobriety.
There is no denying that opioid addiction continues to be one of the most serious issues facing the nation right now. However, by each of us doing our part and working together, we can help combat this epidemic. Progress won’t occur in a day, but rather, over time and through taking productive steps towards education and awareness. If you or someone you know is currently struggling with an opioid use disorder or addiction of any kind, our team at Profound Treatment can help. We offer a variety of different evidence-based treatment methods that can help you take back your life and begin to heal. Long-term recovery is possible, and you deserve it. Call (310) 340-2609 to learn more.
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