The Opioid Crisis in Ohio
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1bTSbYNQWpAn9kxevejPK3DSDPNXbCEKhJybMhcBGKOs/edit?usp=sharing
The opioid crisis is something that has had a greater light shed on it in the past few years, especially in Ohio. Opioids are drugs that affect the activity of the nervous system by decreasing feelings of pain and alter breathing (Opiate Crisis, n.d.). Access to opioids such as Percocet or Oxycontin can be fairly easy. It can be obtained by prescription after a simple surgery, such as getting your wisdom teeth out (Opioid Misuse and Addiction, 2020). Ohio’s skyrocketing rates may be attributed to the ease of access of these prescription drugs. There are 63.5 opioid prescriptions for every 100 persons in the state of Ohio compared to the 58.7 average rate in the United States (Ohio Opioid Summary, 2019).
There are countless negative outcomes of opioid abuse. One of the possible outcomes is neonatal abstinence syndrome, in which children of parents misusing opioids may experience nausea or seizures and withdrawal symptoms when born (The Opioid Epidemic, 2018). Other negative effects include the spreading of diseases such as HIV or Hepatitis C through the use of unsanitized needles and even overdose. Children with parents suffering from Substance Abuse Disorder are even three times more likely to be physically or sexually abused (The Opioid Epidemic, 2018).
It is important for us to understand the risk factors and outcomes of opioid abuse, especially because this issue is prevalent in a state we all live in for the majority of the year. While it may not directly affect you, it could quite possibly impact someone you care about.
References
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2305.23
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019, March 30). Ohio Opioid Summary. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/opioid-summaries-by-state/ohio-opioid-summary
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020, February 20). Opioid Overdose Crisis. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis
Opiate Crisis. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://myfcph.org/health-systems-planning/ep/opiate-crisis/
Opiate Crisis. (2020). Retrieved from https://myfcph.org/health-systems-planning/ep/opiate-crisis/
Opioid Misuse and Addiction. (2020, April 3). Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/opioidmisuseandaddiction.html
Opioid Use Disorder. (2018, November). Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction/opioid-use-disorder/opioid-use-disorder
The Opioid Epidemic: Impact on Children and Families. (2018, January 15). Retrieved from http://www.fortunejournals.com/articles/the-opioid-epidemic-impact-on-children-and-families.html