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Over 100,000 deaths in 2023 -

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the US over 100,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2023, a number that has been consistently increasing since the turn of the century.

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Opioids -

The most recent epidemic that has gripped the United States began with the overprescription of opioid painkillers. The "Opioid Crisis" worsened with the emergence of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which cemented the gravity of the crisis.

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Mixing substances -

The use of substances like methamphetamine and cocaine simultaneously increased, often in combination with opioids. The wide combination of agents further complicated efforts to address the problem.

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Innovative approaches offer hope -

While statistics on addiction and subsequent deaths may create a sense of despair, an innovative, multipronged approach offers a glimmer of hope in fighting this crisis.

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Stigma of addiction -

One of the biggest challenges in addressing using is the stigma of addiction, which can be viewed as a personal failing rather than a health condition that requires proper care.

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Users fear discrimination -

This stigma associated with using can actively keep people from seeking the help they need, fearing discrimination, isolation, or anxiety about receptiveness from families and communities.

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Addiction as disease -

Reducing the stigmatization of using is essential to any intervention response. By reframing addiction as a disease, rather than a personal failure, addicts can access the support they need to recover.

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Narcan -

In terms of medical strategies, one of the most important tools to prevent deaths by overdose is naloxone, a medication commonly known as Narcan. Narcan quickly reverses opioid overdoses.

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Reversing opioid overdose -

The medication, administered via nasal spray or injection, goes into immediate effect to reverse opioid overdoses. When used properly and timely, Narcan alone can save someone’s life at risk of death from opioid overdose.

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Expanding access to Narcan -

There have been a great deal of efforts made by communities, NGOs, and healthcare providers to expand access to Narcan beyond just medical facilities. Advocates believe that increasing accessibility to Narcan on a community level, without a prescription, can lower the rates of overdose deaths.

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Public health campaigns -

Public health campaigns have been at the forefront of the public education necessary to reduce the stigma of having and using Narcan, and to know when and how to administer it.

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Access to rehabilitation -

While a medication like Narcan is an invaluable tool to mitigate preventable deaths, it is not a treatment for drug addiction. Therefore, access to rehabilitation and programs that intervene in drug use are of critical importance.

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Expanding support services -

Significant efforts have been made to expand access to treatment options. Access to therapy, counselling, support groups, and social services help addicts access tools that aid in rebuilding their lives, such as housing and employment.

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Managing craving and withdrawal -

Medications that help reduce drug cravings and symptoms of withdrawal help addicts manage some of the challenges that result in repeated drug use. Methadone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine, which can be prescribed by medical practitioners, have become more accessible for those living in underserved areas.

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Integrative treatment options -

A combination of behavioral therapies with medication can make a significant impact on recovery outcomes. By providing tools to both overcome addiction and resources for people to recreate their own lives, integrative treatments offer a second chance at life.

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Barriers to treatments -

As the American healthcare system is privatized, one of the major challenges are the costs associated with treatment options. Addicts may not always be employed and, when they are, they may not have access to health insurance that covers the costs for these kinds of treatments.

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Increased funding -

Local, state, and federal governments have increased funding for intervention programs and services. By expanding access to these services, more people without means will be able to seek recovery when they choose to.

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Harm reduction -

In addition to discussions on health system reform and accessibility, one major policy point has been the implementation of "harm reduction." These strategies allow for measures that reduce the harm of using without explicitly requiring abstinence.

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Supervised consumption -

A well-known strategy of harm reduction includes supervised consumption. Users are able to consume under the supervision of trained professionals to reduce the risk of overdose. There are studies that demonstrate that supervised consumption also facilitates access to rehabilitation treatment.

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Needle exchange programs -

Needle exchange programs, which became widespread during the 1980's HIV/AIDS epidemic, are another popular strategy of harm reduction. These programs provide users with clean needles, helping reduce the spread of infectious disease.

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Portugal case as example -

Countries such as Portugal have implemented both of these harm reduction strategies, statistically proven to have helped reduce deaths related to overdose and the spread of disease.

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Mitigation strategies -

While these strategies may not directly help in the reduction of drug consumption, they mitigate some major risks associated with their use. By allowing for drug use to take place in environments that are supervised and sterile, users have a better chance of eventually seeking treatments to end their use of drugs.

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Treatment vs. criminalization -

These strategies and resources build into the pivotal role that responsible policymaking decisions can have in resolving public health issues in a way that focuses on treatments, rather than criminalization.

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Oregon leads the way -

In 2020, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize possession of small amounts of drugs. Instead of sending recreational users to prison, individuals were redirected to treatment programs. This is an important step that diverges from the hard-line decisions taken during the "War on Drugs."

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Golden Opportunity Program -

In October 2024, the New Mexico Department of Health launched the Golden Opportunity Program. Locally-implemented, it is a new program that conducts outreach to those who have had Narcan administered to reverse an overdose. Patients are offered medications like buprenorphine, plus help to access rehabilitation.

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The role of pharmaceutical companies -

The issue of accountability surrounding the opioid crisis has been a major point of discussion. Much blame has been placed on pharmaceutical companies, which encouraged and rewarded physicians for prescribing opioids to their patients.

This image shows family members of people who died during the opioid epidemic protesting against a bankruptcy deal with Purdue Pharmaceuticals that allowed owners to avoid criminal prosecution and to keep billions of dollars in private wealth.

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Lawsuits follow -

Opioids are highly addictive, but critics argue that they were largely prescribed without need, or in the absence of adequate supervision. The ease of their accessibility, facilitated by legitimate sources, fueled several lawsuits that resulted in multi-billion-dollar settlements.

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More work ahead -

Despite the positive advancements that the implementation of this new approach has had on users, there is still much more work to be done. Continuously implementing harm reduction strategies, engaging in meaningful policy reform, and expanding access to medications will be an essential step to continue the decline of deaths and usage.

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Policy reforms and public education needed -

The physical, psychological, and socio-economic barriers that keep addicts from obtaining help require larger policies and public education programs to take place, which facilitate a more compassionate approach to drug use.

Sources: (CNN) (NM Political Report) (PBS) (The Guardian) (NPR) (The New York Times) (Reuters) (AP News) (CDC)

See also: How to reduce the risk of relapse

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