Reference no: EM133623397

1. Opioids are medicines that are often prescribed by doctors to help relieve pain. Dependence in the use of opioids may lead to addiction. Over time, the brain actually changes so that the person develops a powerful urge to take opioids. According to National Institutes of Health (2016), over 2.5 million Americans suffer from opioid (including heroin and prescription pain relievers) use disorder which contributed to over 28,000 overdose deaths in 2014. This was followed last 2017 wherein more than 47,000 Americans died of opioid overdose and more than 2 million Americans live with addiction to opioids. Moreover, more than 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, and of those, 25 million live with daily chronic pain ?and lack effective and safe non-opioid options for pain management (Nahin, 2012). The widespread use of opioids to treat acute and chronic pain contributed to the approximately 10.3 million people aged 12 years and older in the United States in 2018 who misused opioids, including heroin. Then, come 2019 US hit nearly 50,000 deaths of related cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the total "economic burden" of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement (Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, 2019). These reports of deaths and hospitalizations from Opioids, including both prescription and illicit drugs are called "Opioid Epidemic". This affects people in all demographics and from all walks of life, including teens, seniors, veterans, and the LGBTQ community. Even those who do not use or abuse Opioids can feel the effects of the epidemic if Opioid abuse is common in their area or if their loved ones have addiction issues. The economic burden of Opioid abuse and the emotional burden put on families of an addicted individual have been devastating (Smith, 2019).

2. Doctors or medical health professionals can diagnose opioid use disorder and opioid addiction. Diagnosis will include a medical assessment. It also often includes testing for mental health disorders. Opioid addiction is a chronic illness and should be treated the same as other chronic illnesses. Like those, it should continually be managed and monitored. Treatment for opioid addiction is different for each person. The main goal of treatment is to help an individual stop using the drug and help avoid using it again in the future (Familydoctor.org, 2021). Medications, including buprenorphine (Suboxone®, Subutex®), methadone, and extended release naltrexone (Vivitrol®), are effective for the treatment of opioid use disorders. According to World Health Organization (WHO), Buprenorphine and methadone are "essential medicines, and that medications should be combined with behavioral counseling for a "whole patient" approach, known as Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). According to Mattick and Schwartz (2009; 20013), MAT decreases opioid use, opioid-related overdose deaths, criminal activity, and infectious disease transmission, and increases social functioning and retention in treatment.

3. Strong support from family and friends for opioid addicts is more crucial than ever. Recommending getting medical help/ assistance would be the first recommendation any family member/friend would give. In America, there are lots of health care providers including the American Society of Addiction Medicine, The American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry ( who also has a Patient Referral Program), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Institute on Drug Abuse, and many more. But aside from that, encouraging opioid addicts to participate in support groups such as family, online, and other support groups would also be beneficial. This will help them discuss their needs, keep them in touch, and encourage healthier choices and lifestyles. Positivity and open communication are the best ways to help a friend or family member in recovery. Physicians and other health care providers are trained to provide counseling for individuals with opioid addiction.