Opioids are sedative drugs which ease the pain just like morphine does. Opioids make their users feel euphoria which is much sought after by drug users. Unfortunately, the United States has witnessed the opioid crisis for at least four times since 1991. Many patients started misusing prescription drugs and even diverting it to other consumers. However, as the government tightened its grip around prescription drugs, many started using heroin. As the number of heroin users went up, the number of deaths went through the roof. Drug addicts inject heroin and many of its users share needles. Consequently, needle sharing leads to cultivating many bloodborne diseases like AIDS.
Efforts in the US:
According to the CDC, ” more than 130 Americans dies every day from opioid use”. In order to fight the epidemic, president Trump has allocated $1.8 billion as a grant to state governments in hopes of fighting the epidemic. Moreover, the US government has allocated more than $70 million towards drugs that reverse the effects of narcotics. Paramedics/EMTs use the drug Narcan on the scene to reverse heroin overdoses. However, if they are called too late to the scene, the drug user will likely die from overdosing.
Fears in the UK:
General practitioners in the United Kingdom are prescribing over 71 million anti-depressants. British citizens blame the pharmaceutical companies for trying to market the anti-depressant drugs. As a result, the UK has become the third country in the world with growing opiate users. In 2018, there were 220 deaths from Tramadol Also, 79 deaths from Oxycodone. Many activists in the UK suggest fixing social problems in underserved areas. Also, they encourage drug users to seek health counseling. The biggest advantage that the UK has over the US is the NHS. The National Health Services in the UK provide free insurance for all citizens. Consequently, seeking mental health will not cost patients as much as it would in the US.
To read more, please visit:
https://news.sky.com/story/fears-uk-could-follow-the-us-into-opioid-crisis-11805269
