Opiates
Working
in a clinic has knowledge me with patients who are on opioids. I can sense a
few things with the way patients react. I have notice more children being
prescribed with control substances. The misusage of narcotic drugs can subject
to danger and even to death. Currently the clinic I work for is being sued over
a patient overdosing. Proper knowledge on these types of medications is very
important. Patients as well as others should have a better knowledge on the
risk factors, effects and clarify who should and should not be on opiates.
Opioids are pain
medication prescribed by a doctor for patients who suffer from chronic disease. The article “Opioids for Chronic Pain: First
Do No Harm,” mentions how the use of opioids have increased rapidly throughout
the years. It also states how it’s difficult to determine the level of pain a
patient is experiencing. The misuses of opioids from patients who have suffered
from drug abuse are those who deal with depression.[1]
The article describes how some patients don’t comply with telling the truth of overusing
the drug. Not following directions the doctors give them can be used as a sign
for abusing drugs. The number of patients overdosing has also increased.[2] It
also explains alternatives for treating chronic pain and how a provider needs
to distinguish the proper procedure for each patient.
The audience is to
those who want to have a better comprehension on what opioids are. However,
what is missing is more information on who actually needs opioids. It is very
broad; it needs to be more specific on the types of chronic diseases that
normally require these particular medications. Another statement made was the
idea of different methods invented to treat chronic disease, notwithstanding
how they make the decisions for patients.
Another thing I notice
from the article “Opioids for Chronic Pain,” was that it talked about many
different subjects and was all over the place with their ideas. It went from
explaining what an opioid is, to who is misusing it more often, to who uses
opioids, how to manage a plan for users, and how it’s not appropriate for
everyone. However, the intention should have been to focus more on one thought,
explain it correctly, state out more facts about it instead of leaving so much
information out on each subject.
The question that the
author poses is how they need to come up with a way to determine the correct
needs and usage for patients. The problem with this article is that they posed
the question, but not the solution. His conclusion was to use other ways to
cope with pain, but not being considerate of what patients want.
In the article
“Addiction, Dependence, and Tolerance,” the differences between physical
dependence, tolerance and addiction are defined. Many people confuse these
three categories although; they all seem to have a connection. In other words
tolerance is when your body adjusts to the amount of medication consumed. Once
it reaches that level your tolerance then builds. Therefore, an increase on
dosage is necessary. What opiate users suffer from other than addiction is withdrawals.
Withdrawals occur when a patient suddenly stops taking the drug and then
experiences horrible symptoms. Physical dependence is when the body is
requiring the affection of the drug. It also explains how it is a
“Physiological state,” rather than a drug behavior.[3]
Addiction to an opioid
can be a serious condition. It occurs when the misuse of drug is being taken upon.
There is a constant need of wanting it when the patient is no longer feeling
pain and reaches a state where you can’t process or function correctly.
The second article
seemed to have more of an affect to me. The reason for this being is because it
explains in well simple details the definitions of opioid’s and its classifications.
For example, it explained what addiction, physical dependence and tolerance
are. It refers to the people who are or will start using opioids by giving them
a clear statement on the differences. That way they have a better understanding
on the affects of narcotic use. It clarifies to patients about the myths they
hear and how they are not always true. What the author does is not only explain
the differences, but similarities and how they are easily confused and
compared.
An article should be
based on facts and examples. I felt like the second article was much more easy
to understand and comprehensive. The first article felt more of an opinion and
inconsiderate to patients. Overall they both taught me the basic principles on
the use of narcotic drugs, their purpose and their affects. During my research
I learned that there is such thing as becoming dependent towards a drug and not
necessarily addicted. I also learned that there are other techniques to help
patients with the relief of pain, but it varies on the individuals.
[1] Grattan A,
Sullivan MD, Saunders KW, Campbell CI, Von Korff MR. Depression and
prescription opioid misuse among chronic opioid therapy recipients
no history of
substance abuse. Ann Fam Med. 2012;10 (4):304-311.
[2] "Opioids
for Chronic Pain: First Do No Harm." Weblog post. The Annals of
Family Medicine. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.
[3] "Addiction,
Dependence, and Tolerance." Weblog post. DARA Drug Alcohol Rehab
Asia. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.
Article
3
“Opiates Statistics and Facts,”
mentions about the numbers of opiate users and the rise of addiction. It argues
that anyone can get a hold of opiates because it’s everywhere. You can get them
from parents, relatives, friends, strangers and doctors. It also states that addiction can fall under
any category of a person whether they are young, old and any ethnicity. The crimes committed by criminals are those
who are under the influence of some sort of narcotic drug. “In 2006, 2.4
million Americans used opiates.”[1]
That number is increasing as time goes by. Many people who have been abused in
any type of way or have gone through a traumatic point in their lives are
highly known for using opiates. Not only does it cost money to pay for drugs,
but other people are affected financially too. If addicts do not work because
they are too busy doing other things likes focusing on their drugs, committing
crimes or getting help, it’s bound to cost someone. The ones paying for that
are usually their medical insurances. It cost society money for these addict’s
actions too. Finally it talks about the rising of opioids. How more and more
people are becoming addicts and the numbers of deaths from narcotics. Although
it seems far from reach, it is not impossible to lower the statistics according
to them. There are ways like educating and rehabilitations to help.
I think the article went over the
basic factors and statistics of opiates, but it should have been more updated
instead of using statistics from 2009 although, this article was written in
2013. I also think the article should have mentioned more reasons to why people
become addicts and how opiates have power over them. People who suffer from
medical conditions and how it sometimes leads them to become addicts without
being consciously aware would have been some information to add. After all
those are factors of opiates.
If people are having an easier time
getting a hold on drugs on their hands, why don’t we as a society look for more
ways to prevent it? Until the numbers of addicts and deaths become higher that
is when people start to pay more attention. We shouldn’t wait until one dies in
order to take action. That will be too late, the person would be gone. Also,
parents should be more cautious with their children. Children don’t know any
better and it’s up to parents to educate them. Parents have a lot of influence
to towards their children. It’s always a good thing to be supportive instead of
bringing more negative thoughts and feelings drugs abusers. It is possible and
there are many ways like a 12 step program that helps people overcome their
addictions.
[1] Headrick, Dan, MD.
"Opiate Statistics and Facts." Web log post. Opiates Statistics and
Facts. N.p., 2013. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
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