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The Opioid Epidemic: Unraveling a National Tragedy

Malpractice, greed, and addiction


The dangers of opioids and the problems they bring are not new. After the British began trading opium in Canton hundreds of years ago, it created a multitude of issues in China, including addiction. Although there are many times throughout history to focus on, this article will discuss the opioid epidemic in the United States beginning in the late 1990s.


What are opioids?

Opioids are a category of drug that interact with the opioid receptors on certain nerve cells. These cells are primarily located in the brain and spinal cord, but are found throughout the whole body as well. Opioids come in three different forms: natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic. Natural opioids are derived from the seed pods of opioid plants, they are also called opiates. Morphine, opium, codeine, and thebaine are all made naturally. Semi-synthetic opioids are chemically processed opiates made in laboratories. Some examples are the painkillers oxycodone, hydrocodone, and oxymorphone, as well as heroin. Synthetic opioids are entirely made in a laboratory and contain no natural ingredients. Tramadol and fentanyl, an increasingly problematic drug, are both entirely synthetic. Both natural and synthetic opioids are used medically, but they are also often fabricated and used illegally.


The damages of using

Short-term opioid usage can lead to drowsiness or a sense of relaxation. Euphoria, nausea or vomiting, and your breath will likely slow down. Long-term usage brings more severe side-effects. Some examples are bowel obstruction or constipation, heart attacks, increased pain response, and even immunosuppression. Side effects can, and often will, occur whether opioids are used illicitly or medically, especially in cases of long-term consumption. Not only are there physical consequences there are also social issues if addiction becomes a problem. Addiction tears apart relationships, creates problem in work and school lives, brings on addiction in others, and kills hundreds of thousands of people in the United States alone every year.


How it all began and where we are now

 In the late 1990s, the first wave of the epidemic began. Doctors ignored safety concerns in order to turn a profit, and the amount of pharmaceutical opioids being prescribed increased dramatically. Because of this, innumerable deaths occurred, addiction rates went up, and a wave of suffering began its trudge through the United States. Patients suffered; doctors made hundreds of thousands of dollars. By 2019, the opioid related death toll rose to an alarming 500,000 people.

The second wave began in the early 2010s. Heroin popularity was on the rise and the death toll was only increasing. Overdose and addiction were not the only problems though. Heroin also puts people at risk for HIV, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and infections.

In 2013, the third wave began when synthetic opioid use was becoming more common. With more use came more deaths and even more overdoses. Due to its small dosage, addictive nature, and the extreme risk it promises, fentanyl has been a main component in this wave. Fentanyl is both the perfect killer and an incredible money maker when sold illegally. In recent years, counterfeit pills made with fentanyl have been leading to more and more adolescent overdose deaths, and that number only continues to rise. 



Fentanyl 

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50-100 times stronger than morphine. It is used medically for pain relief and end-of-life care, but is becoming an increasingly dangerous illicit drug. It is currently the leading cause of death for people in the United States aged 18-45 and in the past year it has been involved in 70% of United States overdose deaths. Because fentanyl is more cost effective due to its small dosages, it is often added to other drugs in order to heighten the high and make more money. This leads to many overdoses as people aren’t always aware of the contents of their drugs and take something their body cannot handle. Fentanyl has rapidly become one of the most lethal drugs in America.


What now?

Multiple Pharmaceutical companies are currently investing in research and development of non-addictive pain relief options to replace opioids. This has the potential to be truly revolutionary for those with chronic pain disorders, substance abuse disorders, opioid use disorders, and more. It will decrease the likelihood of new addictions and stop countless unnecessary deaths. Caregivers and addiction specialists are working tirelessly to educate and understand new ways to treat addiction and reduce stigma. This is in alignment with the general medical philosophy and movement to treat mental illnesses around the country with compassion.  

More and more, harm reduction and excellent treatment for opioid disorders are becoming accepted and brought to attention by those in the behavioral health field and recent research. Agencies like the Center for Disease Control (CDC)  and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) are working hard to create a future where this crisis can end. Organizations in the area like Longview Acute Care Facility in the Garcia House are also giving nearly immediate assistance to those in need.

To support the fight against the ongoing opioid crisis you can help spread accurate information, bring attention to organizations fighting against the epidemic, donate, or vote for policies helping the crisis.



Help is out there.

Hotlines


Treatment in Fort Collins

  • Longview Acute Care Facility | 2260 W Trilby Rd, Fort Collins

  • Spirit Crossing Clubhouse | 1148 E Elizabeth St, Fort Collins

  • Garcia House | 1008 Patton St, Fort Collins

  • Poudre Valley Hospital | 1024 S Lemay Ave, Fort Collins







Casey Taylor is a sophomore at Poudre High School. He is involved in the CTC program in the behavioral health pathway. In his spare time he enjoys reading and spending time with friends. Casey's column focuses on mental health, and behavioral health. His favorite color is #BA1C1C.

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