The faces of individuals who have been destroyed by opiate abuse are everywhere. If you think the crisis is not close to your home, you are probably wrong. According to the the United States Surgeon General, an estimated 2.1 million people in the United States struggle with opioid addiction, sadly 130-people every day lose their battle to the addiction and die from an overdose. Since 2010, the number of opioid overdose deaths has doubled from more than 21,000 to more than 42,000 in 2016, with the largest increase occurring among deaths related to illicitly made fentanyl and fentanyl analogs (synthetic opioids).
What is an Opiate?
Opioids are a class of drugs including medications which are typically prescribed to treat chronic pain, as well as illegal drugs.
- OxyContin
- Heroin
- Vicodin
- Morphine
- Hydrocodone
- Heroin
- Fentanyl
- Other prescription pain relievers
The opioid crisis was born in the 1990s when large pharmaceutical companies assured healthcare providers that the pain reveling medication was non-habit forming. Providers started prescribing the medication with high incidences around the country before it became known that the drugs were indeed highly addictive. Now, a national crisis, the volatile drug crisis now includes counterfeit pills and dangerous combinations of other drugs such as cocaine.
Signs of Addition:
If you suspect a loved one has become addicted to opiates, getting them the help they need is essential. If a person has become addicted they will most likely require intensive care at an inpatient rehabilitation center. Certain drugs, including buprenorphine, methadone, and extended-release naltrexone in a combination of behavioral counseling known as the “whole patient” approach has been effective in treating opioid abuse, according to The National Institute on Drug Abuse. While the effects of these drugs vary from person to person, here are some indicators to watch for:
- Having difficulty staying awake or falling asleep during normal times
- Needle marks on arms or legs (due to injected abuse)
- Flushed, itchy skin
- Impulsive actions and reckless decision-making
- Risky activities, such as driving under the influence
- Withdrawing from social activities
- Visiting multiple doctors to seek prescriptions
- Constricted pupils
Prevention:
Drug abuse is one of the leading causes of accidental death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The recognition of abuse and understanding certain risk factors of the opioid epidemic is key to prevention. Some of these risk factors include:
- Past or current substance abuse
- Untreated psychiatric disorders
- Younger age
- Certain social situations that encourage misuse
- Other drug use
- High use of alcohol
The CDC is working on programs to create programs to monitor prescription drugs but ultimately, if you or someone you care about is abusing opioids it’s important to seek the help you need to recover and move on with your life successfully. For help in Illinois visit the Illinois Helpline today or call 833-2FINDHELP.
Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning and will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us. Adolf Funeral Home has been serving the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for a number of years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability, yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html
