The US Needs to Invest in the Billions to Stop the Opioid Crisis from claiming Millions of Lives

175 Americans, on average, will lose their lives because of a drug overdose, by the end of today. That’s not so dissimilar to a 737 crashing and killing every onboard passenger. These numbers estimated by the Center of Disease and Control (CDC) are frightening and absurd.

So, if a plane crash sparks widespread outrage, why doesn’t an opioid-related death? Why does it not stir the conscience of the International community and US authorities in the same manner? Why does it not force them to lay the foundation of more opioid treatment clinics, opioid rehab centers and opioid treatment centers? These are the questions that loom large in the conscience of every father who has lost his teenage son to the monster of opioids.

What Measures is the US Government taking to Ensure Drug Addiction Treatment?

President Donald Trump proclaimed the Opioid epidemic to be a public health emergency and announced an initiative to invest in drug addiction treatment and stop the culprits behind the aggravation of this national health crisis.

The authorities claim that many new legislative proposals are being presented to prevent the illicit use of opioids. From safer packaging to awareness, these legislations address important points. But is this all enough?

Opioids comprise a host of prescription drugs like codeine, OxyContin, Morphine as well as heroin. They are prescribed to alleviate pain, but in most cases, spell the start of an addiction that doesn’t let go until it takes the life of the user. Although a significant decrease in opioid prescriptions has been reported in the past 7 years, it’s still not within the required range. The US needs to take a solid stance against the Opioid crisis if it wishes to see the numbers of opioid prescriptions drop to the ones a century ago. It must also spend to increase the number of opioid treatment clinics, opioid treatment centers and Opioid rehab centers.

How can The Government’s Billions be put to Good Use?

Dr. Caleb Alexander, director of Johns Hopkins Center for Drug Safety believes that the lives of many opioid addiction stricken people can be saved. He says that opioid addiction is a treatable condition like high cholesterol and diabetes. The problem is that most people aren’t getting access to opioid treatment centers and opioid rehab centers and proper medication.

According to him, if the US invests in the billions, it will help patients get access to medication that has scientifically been backed to reduce the desire for further opioids.

These huge sums could also be used to form more opiod rehab centers, opioid treatment centers and opioid treatment clinics.

Statisticians fear that by 2020, the toll of opioid-related deaths may rise to 1 million. Although, government funding to make opioid treatment readily available to the General public may prove fundamental in stopping the specter of a bigger opioid crisis, there is still more that needs to be done.

After all is said and done, People also need to play their part

It behooves people to come out, break-free from the stigma surrounding opioids, and put pressure on the government to take sterns steps to make more opiod treatment centers and opioid rehab centers. They have to march to make drug addiction treatment an easily accessible commodity. It’s a national emergency. Opting for neutrality in a time like this may mean standing idly as millions of lives are taken away. No one wants that kind of blood on their hands.