“The opioid epidemic has recently been described as the largest public health crisis to hit the U.S. since the AIDS epidemic.” (Dyjack 3) This quote by executive director of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, David Dyjack, in an article for the Journal of Environmental Health, explains the extreme magnitude of the opioid epidemic currently oppressing the United States. Additionally, an article published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explained that approximately 27,000 deaths happen annually in the U.S. alone due to unintentional overdose of prescription drugs, and an overwhelming percentage are due to opioid analgesics. (CDC 2) Similar to the AIDS epidemic, it is a constant struggle in the
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In a radio report given by award-winning medical blogger and reporter, Allison Aubrey, she refers to Stefan Kertesz, a physician and professor at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, who provides an analysis of why opioids are so addictive and then uses that evidence to support his assertion that the best way to wean addicts off opioids is to find alternative drugs that have the same painkilling effects, but are less addictive. (Aubrey 11) In a study report by a group of medical professionals, headed by Dr. Richard C. Dart M.D, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, this idea presented by Kertesz is expounded upon within the concluding statement, “Our results show a parallel relationship between the availability of prescription opioid analgesics through legitimate pharmacy channels and the diversion and abuse of these drugs and associated adverse outcomes.” (Dart 11) The remainder of the report then promotes the introduction of new substances as alternatives to opioids in efforts to reduce exposure. Jeremy Hsu proposes a drug alternative in medical marijuana that he describes in his article “Can Medical Cannabis Break the Painkiller Epidemic?” where he interprets a study conducted at the Medical Center in New York City finding states who legalized medical marijuana had significantly fewer opioid related deaths annually than those where it remains illegal. (Hsu 2) While the limitations of medical cannabis are also explained within this article, it does provide hope for advancements that could reduce opioid abuse by finding replacement
In a radio report given by award-winning medical blogger and reporter, Allison Aubrey, she refers to Stefan Kertesz, a physician and professor at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, who provides an analysis of why opioids are so addictive and then uses that evidence to support his assertion that the best way to wean addicts off opioids is to find alternative drugs that have the same painkilling effects, but are less addictive. (Aubrey 11) In a study report by a group of medical professionals, headed by Dr. Richard C. Dart M.D, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, this idea presented by Kertesz is expounded upon within the concluding statement, “Our results show a parallel relationship between the availability of prescription opioid analgesics through legitimate pharmacy channels and the diversion and abuse of these drugs and associated adverse outcomes.” (Dart 11) The remainder of the report then promotes the introduction of new substances as alternatives to opioids in efforts to reduce exposure. Jeremy Hsu proposes a drug alternative in medical marijuana that he describes in his article “Can Medical Cannabis Break the Painkiller Epidemic?” where he interprets a study conducted at the Medical Center in New York City finding states who legalized medical marijuana had significantly fewer opioid related deaths annually than those where it remains illegal. (Hsu 2) While the limitations of medical cannabis are also explained within this article, it does provide hope for advancements that could reduce opioid abuse by finding replacement