Substance abuse is the use of a drug in amounts or through ways that are harmful to the user or other people. It is associated with criminal and antisocial behavior and long term personality changes. Substance abuse is characterized by psychological, physical, and social harm and may lead to criminal penalties. Causes of substance abuse are mainly thought to be due to genetic disposition or a habit in which an individual becomes addicted. Substance abuse harms the health of the user and potentially others, leads to psychological and social problems and causes death. This paper looks at the abuse of opioid and steps being taken to reduce its further abuse and harm to society.
Social problem
In the 1980s, Switzerland, and in particular its largest city Zurich, narcotic drug consumption rose steadily. The Swiss government formulated laws designed for rigorous criminal sanctions for substance use. The government struggled with enforcement and even tolerated consumption in controlled areas. In 1986, HIV/AIDs prevalence in Switzerland was the highest in Western Europe. This was related to the rise of drug abuse in the country. The country changed its methods of fighting drug abuse by contracting with direct-service organizations. Authorities embraced measures that have not been used before, including safe-injection rooms, needle-exchange programs, and shelters. Health professionals, the police, and social workers brought together social programs, health programs, and policing under a coherent policy. The Swiss national drug policy today comprises of four key features of prevention, therapy, harm reduction, and prohibition (Wolf, 2019). Heroin use in Switzerland has since reduced significantly.
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Social problems agency
The United States Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has a five-point strategy designed to empower local communities in decreasing opioid morbidity and mortality. The services provided include providing access to better treatment and recovery and most importantly, prevention. Through Medicaid, the state of Texas receives waivers to cover the treatment. HHS provides more timely and specific public health data on the epidemic. HHS better and evidence-based methods of pain management are promoted. It has also invested in getting better targeting of overdose-reversing drugs. It also supports research on pain and addiction (HHS, 2020). Texas Targeted Opioid Response involves plans on behavioural health, integrated projects, and treatment and recovery services.
Effects of opioids crisis to the community
The opioid crisis or epidemic has been a uniquely American problem. It is one of the worst drug crises in the country’s history. Today, the opioid crisis kills more people than car accidents or guns. It has left many children orphaned in the communities. It is also unique since it is a prescription drug with teenagers abusing it more than any other illicit drug except marijuana. Opioids are now abused more than meth, heroin, and cocaine combined by teenagers (Dasgupta, 2018). Professionals such as doctors and pharmacists have been prosecuted for overprescribing the drug. Many opioid users suffer from nutritional neglect. Pregnant mothers abusing opioids can negatively affect the unborn child. Opioid addiction does not only negatively affect the user but the entire family system. Infants born to drug-addicted mother could suffer developmental delays or long-term health effects. Children with a parent addicted to opioid may suffer child neglect or abuse.
Community-based grassroots efforts have been initiated by in the community to raise awareness of the opioid crisis within the community and available preventive and recovery measure needed to be taken. Forums planned by the community members are effective in increasing overall awareness and knowledge of the opioid crisis within each community. Communities plan forums together so that there is increased collaboration. Community-based medication disposal programs such as drop boxes and collection sites for unused prescription opioids are available in places including pharmacies, hospitals, and fire departments. There is heightened community-wide dialogue highlighting the use of non-stigmatizing language. This is aimed at changing social perceptions about people with opioid addiction and lend support to them in recovery.
Intervention measures by the agency
Few interventions have worked in the fight against opioids. However, communication and providing of information to the general public have helped a lot in raising awareness of the devastating effects opioids abuse has had in the society. People are more aware of how addictive are and the potential damage they could cause to the user, family, friends, and the community. The HHS intervention, however, has not been able to slow the rates of deaths resulting from opioids addictions. Opioids abuse is still disproportionately high. It continues to be a big burden to individuals, communities, and the whole country.
Dealing with the opioid crisis
The government should keep a sustained crackdown of pharmacists and doctors who continue to oversubscribe opioids. The use of opioids as a pain reliever should be suppressed and used only when there are no alternatives. The goal should be to do away with especially the harmful and highly addictive types. More funding to research on recovery methods is crucial.
Human Services Professionals
A Case Worker works for a government agency, a nonprofit organization, or any other outfit to take on the cases of people and provide them with advocacy, information and solutions. Case workers are required to have a graduate degree preferably, in social work, sociology, or human services. A case worker will be involved in case management, care planning, resource allocation, monitoring, and closure. There is on-job training which varies with the field taken.
Drug Abuse Counselor
Substance abuse counselors provide the support system needed for people recovering from addictions and other behavioral issues. They form a relationship built on trust with their client to provide the support, resources, and judgement-free guidance that patients can utilize in their way to recovery. Most states require counselors to have a minimum of a bachelor's degree and supervised experience, under a licensed counselor
Contact with the agency
Texas HHS can be contacted through client hotline number, call center, or through postal mail. All this information is available on their website. Stigma can lead to victims of the opioids crisis. Families may also not be aware of services offered by the service agency. Both problems can be solved through enhanced community-based grassroots efforts to raise awareness.
References
HHS. (2020). 5-point strategy to combat the opioid crisis. Health and Human Services .
https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/about-the-epidemic/hhs-response/index.html
Dasgupta, N. (2018). Opioid Crisis: No Easy Fix to Its Social and Economic Determinants.
American Journal of Public Health . https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5846593/
Wolf, M. (2019). Inside Switzerland’s radical drug policy innovation. Stanford Social
Information Review. https://ssir.org/articles/entry/inside_switzerlands_radical_drug_policy_innovation
