Reference no: EM133406257

Case Study: Injection drug use involving opioids, heroin, and fentanyl-class drugs have dramatically increased in the United States in the last decade. Drug overdose deaths, including those involving prescription opioids and heroin, have more than quadrupled in the United States since 1999. Synthetic opioids, particularly illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF), have driven the biggest increase in overdose deaths from 2014 to 2017. In 2015, both the DEA and the CDC issued nationwide alerts identifying illicitly manufactured fentanyl as a threat to public health and safety. In 2017, Florida heroin deaths had increased by 72% from 2014 (549 to 944) and fentanyl deaths had increased over 224% (538 to 1,743) during this time period.

Many strategies have been discussed to decrease opioid related overdoses and deaths including severely limiting prescriptions, having safe places for drug users and needle exchange, providing naloxone in the community for quicker overdose reversal, using medication assisted treatment with buprenorphine and many other strategies.

This case study also introduces the use of Photovoice which is a qualitative method used for community-based participatory research to document and reflect what is happening in people's daily lives. It is an empowering and flexible process that combines photography with grassroots social action to depict key health or social issues that individuals struggle with in their lives or community.

Apply your knowledge as health care experts:

You, as staff members to the Assistant Secretary of Health in the Department of Health and Human Services, have been asked to prepare recommendations for stepping up the effort to combat the opioid 'epidemic' in the United States. Your team has just completed the Photovoice project and are now discussing options to address this crisis. The following is a list of potential interventions and strategies you have each brought to the discussion table based on the CDC's evidence-based strategies to reduce opioid overdoses.

• Syringe Services Program
• Naloxone Distribution
• Fentanyl Screening
• Medication Assisted Treatment

Question: Provide an analysis of the pros and cons of each strategy listed above, including unintended consequences, legality, likelihood for popular acceptance, and effectiveness. Also discuss how these strategies impact health equity and the public's health overall. Provide explanation as to why some options seem appropriate while others should be discarded (cite evidence to support your explanation).