With substances such as oxycodone and hydrocodone killing approximately ninety Americans daily, President Donald Trump and his administration have declared the country's opioid crisis a public health emergency.
In 2015, more than 33,000 people died from drug overdoses involving opioids and the numbers have been on the rise ever since.
The crisis began in the late 1990s when pharmaceutical companies assured doctors and others in the medical community that opioids were not addictive. This reassured medical providers, who began prescribing opioids with confidence. As prescription opioid use increased, misuse of the drug became widespread, leading to overdoses and deaths. Little was known about its highly addictive nature nor did they anticipate the effects such a drug would have on the nation.
Because opioid addiction is so prevalent in the United States, it is likely that someone you know has an addiction. For those who want to help end this national crisis, the most critical thing to understand and accept is that addiction is a real (and treatable) medical illness.
When seeking pain management, ask doctors, dentists and other healthcare providers for alternatives to opioid drugs. No one is immune to addiction.
One way to keep unnecessary drugs out of the home is to limit medication supply to the expected recovery time, so there is no leftover medication once treatment is complete. Patients are often over-prescribed pain medications, enabling them to misuse the drug, which is often a precursor to addiction. To cut back on addiction and overdoses, ask the doctor or pharmacist to make the initial prescription a small one that can be refilled only if necessary. It is also important to dispose of leftover medications properly and to never share prescription medications with others.
Employee Assistance Programs, like the one at Corpus Christi Army Depot, are free, voluntary and confidential services that include training, education and counseling to address workplace issues caused by substance abuse.
These services are available at every federal executive branch agency and can be found by contacting your local EAP Coordinator. Federal employees and their family members also have access to mental health and addiction treatment services through their Federal Employees Health Benefits Program insurance plans which covers both in-patient and out-patient mental health care and substance abuse recovery.
Although we are facing the worst drug epidemic in American history, everyone can make an impact and save lives. Educate yourself and know how to get treatment if someone you love is struggling with addiction.
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