Question

How do the current opioid crisis in US public health policy fit into the Health People 2020.

Answer 1

• In the 1990s, healthcare providers are prescribed opioids at greater rates for pain relief.
• Later, the large number of people misused and addicted to opioids due to the availability of drugs without the prescription and also at a cheaper rate.
• Opioid misuse or overdose during pregnancy lead to Neonatal abstinence syndrome in the newborn.
• The opioid crisis results in 40,000 death in the year 2016.
• This threatens the U.S policy of Healthy people 2020.
• So the federal government and National Pain Strategy focused on providing effective, high quality, and appropriate, evidence-based care for chronic pain.
• Further, the federal government has taken initiative in preventive measures. This action is taken through Medical Safety and its main objectives are to improve the overall improvement of the patient by providing appropriate drugs for pain only under prescription.
• Established evidence-based guidelines in order to prevent Adverse Drug Events.
• Federal Government supports and funds for Syringe Service Programs (SSP).
• Steps are taken at the state level to treat the opioid misuser through the treatment program and medication-assisted -therapy.