In: Economics
Write some background information about the Economic and cost issue of the opioid crisis in the US.
The opioid crisis now spanning many decades is rooted in an rise in prescription painkillers.
There was an increase in opioid prescribing in the early 1990s, and the opioid epidemic reached its height in per capita prescriptions in 2011, while national steps were taken to minimize the amount of pills dispensed, the opioid crisis appears to be far from over. Americans and the country also face the repercussions of this.
One consequence which does not come to mind instantly in the category of health risks is the increase in the number of babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). NAS affects children whose mothers used opioids during pregnancy; the appearance of the condition in infants will logically reflect the increase of opioid violence. Naloxone, widely referred to as Narcan, has become an important expense to consider for treatment. It's a drug that reverses an opioid overdose's effects.
Just like the opioid epidemic had many reasons for its start and growth, ending the epidemic needs many solutions. Increased treatment funding, enhanced opioid hazard education and enhanced security to stop the flow of illicit drugs are all necessary tools to combat the crisis. Happily, Congress passed last year and President Trump signed the Help Act, the biggest policy package that tackles a single opioid problem in U.S. history.