Reference no: EM133468565

Question

Translational research involves putting research findings into practice in communities and public health settings to improve equitable access to health. In population health this involves figuring out how to apply this research by assessing the population and the best ways to make a change. One local health care policy that has been influenced by research is the access to Narcan (Naloxone). Narcan is a life-saving medication used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose, which includes heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioids. Narcan is available through nasal spray, injection or auto-injector into major muscle. Research has shown that when naloxone and overdose education is available to the community, overdose deaths decrease. Increasing the availability of naloxone is critical in the efforts to decrease opioid-related overdose deaths (HHS, 2022). With the increase of fentanyl and opioid overdose in California, Assemblymember Joe Patterson introduced Assembly Bill 19, which will require schools to have at least two doses of Naloxone on campus in case of an overdose (Mays, 2022). This Bill can help in schools since overdoses are happening often unknowingly when fentanyl has been hidden in other drugs such as oxycontin and Adderall. What is your comment/feedback on this statement.

Discuss the role of translational research in advancing equitable access to health care and preventative services and policies based on population health. Provide an example of a local health care policy that has been recently enacted and or is awaiting legislative passage that has been influenced by research.