Question

1. Discuss how the determinants of health contributed to the opioid crisis in Anytown.
2. Which determinants of health have had the most influence on the crisis in Anytown? Indicate if the influence was a negative or positive.

Answer 1

Health according to World health organization is described as state of complete physical ,mental and social well being and not merely the absence of a disease.The various determinants of health(which determine or indicate towards the wellness of a population)are :

1)Age &sex of population-certain age groups are particularly prone for some diseases example elderly people above 60 years age for hypertension ,cataract etc.Similarly cases of M.I are seen more in males.

2)socio-economic status - sanitisation practises ,clean living spaces ,food and water affect the wellness.

3)environmental status- certain areas have high SPM(suspended particulate matter) leading to increased incidences of respiratory illnesses etc.

4)BIOLOGICAL determinant-- the genetic makeum ,many disorders can be inherited from parent to offspring.

5)Health services and health awareness in the community,laws to ensure good health systems functioning .

6) BEHAVIOURAL determinants -eg addictions.

Now after understanding this basic information let's try to understand and analyse the situation in any town which is suffering from opioid crisis.

Opioids are pain medications which decrease any kind of pain and hence in therapeutic doses they are prescribed too but it has been seen that people are abusing it often and this is leading to the dependency over opioids .One more fact is true that once a person is kept on opioids for some time it is likely that he won't effectively respond to OTHER drugs for the same therapy and may need to take opioids life long .Recent studies show that nearly 130 people die of opioid overdose everyday in the U.S.

Determinants involved -

1)Sex-Males are found to be particularly suffering more from opioi dependence compared to females .

2) socio economic status --very poor livelihoods are less expected to be having an excess to opioids .

3) environmental --no such role here .

4) biological --Some people can tolerate drugs and therapies better than others.

5)health systems and health awareness in the community -THIS IS THE DETERMINANT OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE HERE IN THIS CASE .The more our doctors are well equipped with the exact knowledge of correct dosing ,when to give ,when to stop or for the matter how to counsel and treat someone suffering from symptoms of opiod dependence .What measures what setups we have for providing services and facilities to the required ,if naloxone are opiod antagonists are properly administered .And Above All if there is proper awareness in the community regarding the use and addictive and harming potential of opiod.