Understanding the Opioid Epidemic - Geneva College
Geneva College shield
Blog search

Understanding the Opioid Epidemic

Picture of Understanding the Opioid Epidemic
Uncategorized

Opioids killed 350,000 people in the United States from 1999-2016, according to the National Center for Health Statistics (2017). But the cycle that started this ongoing crisis is nothing new. In the mid-1800s, opium addiction was a significant problem in the United States. As is often the case, the solution was worse than the problem. A new drug was introduced, Morphine, which was at the time considered a non-addictive substitute. Eventually this approach failed, and morphine addiction became even worse than opium addiction. The fix this time? Heroin, touted as a safe, non-addictive substitute for morphine.

Of course, we can look back and recognize the absurdity of these claims and these “solutions,” but this vicious cycle continues to ravage the nation. In the 1990s, potent, dangerous drugs—opioids—were promoted by pharmaceutical companies and prescribed by doctors to patients experiencing chronic pain under the guise of being “safe” and “non-addictive.”

One example is the case of Purdue Pharma, one of the largest opioid manufacturers in the nation. In a 1998 advertisement, they claimed, “These medicines are much safer, much more powerful, much more versatile than we used to think, and we feel that they should be used much more liberally for people with all sorts of chronic pain.”

As many pharmaceutical companies marketed drugs this way, doctors began prescribing opioids at record levels, and people began to overdose at higher and higher rates. Eventually, steps were taken to hold people accountable and regulate opioids more strictly. In 2007, Purdue Pharma paid over $630 million in fines for making false claims about OxyContin, and executives were convicted on criminal charges.

But even after stricter restrictions were put on opioids, the opioid epidemic was far from solved. As a result of the restrictions, it became harder for people who were addicted to get prescription opioids. So, many turned to heroin, which was a cheaper and more potent opioid than they were previously using because it was illegal, and therefore not subject to the same regulations as prescription opioids.

This exacerbated the epidemic. According to the CDC, people addicted to opioids are 40 times more likely to become addicted to heroin. Thirty years ago, 80% of heroin users started by using heroin; today, 80% of heroin users started by using prescription drugs. Americans are turning to heroin differently than they used to; those who would otherwise never use heroin are being dangerously steered in its direction by opioids and the enablers of the opioid epidemic.

Still more potent drugs are being used and wreaking havoc. As people who are addicted build up a tolerance to heroin, they are turning to fentanyl—an opioid 30-50 times more potent than heroin—which is approved by the FDA for certain medical uses. Each day, over 115 people die from opioid overdoses.

As alarming as these facts are, they do not explain the horrors that result from the ongoing opioid epidemic. The death toll does not take into account the other ways it is destroying people’s lives. It does not consider the people who are affected by watching their friends or family members fall into the suffocating trap of addiction. It doesn’t account for the people who are living in the midst of addiction, struggling every day with the grasp a substance has on them, and on the verge of becoming another causality in the opioid epidemic. In 2015, there were two million people in the United States who were addicted to prescription pain relievers. The destruction of the opioid epidemic extends much further than just the number of people it has killed.

One of the more disturbing realities is that people are not educated on the opioid epidemic and do not know how to respond. Some of the solutions proposed represent this lack of understanding in a disturbing way. One example of this is a “three-strike” law that would cause EMS to not be dispatched to people who have overdosed three times if the patient has not first completed community service.

Experts tell us that addiction is a terrible disease that wrecks people’s lives and kills tens of thousands of Americans each year. When someone is addicted, their brain chemistry changes. They become dependent on a substance, and they operate as if they need the substance to survive and avoid the pain of withdrawal.  Much research supports the idea that addiction is not a choice, and it is not a character flaw. The history of opioids in the United States—false promises, dishonest marketing and free-wheeling prescription patterns—should tell us that.

No amount of shaming will help people who are addicted. Telling people who are addicted that it is their fault will not help them. “Three-strike” laws will not help them.

The best way to help people affected by the opioid epidemic is with education and love. We must make sure people know of the true dangers of opioids before they begin taking them. Opioids are not “safe,” they are not “non-addictive,” and they should certainly not be prescribed so liberally. We also need to make sure people know what addiction is so they can have the proper response in helping people who are addicted. That’s the education part.

By educating people about addiction, the hope is that those who have not witnessed first-hand the horrors of the opioid epidemic will soften their hearts and realize that these are human beings who have fallen victim to a terrible disease, and they need help. They need love. Without showing love to people who are addicted, we will not make any real progress.

As Christians, love should be at the forefront of our approach. And we can’t fake this—we need to truly feel love toward people living with addiction. When we feel this love, we will not shame them or lambast them for being addicted. We will do everything in our power to make sure they get the help they need—even if they don’t yet know they need help. Even if they resist our love. The Holy Spirit has the power to change lives, so we need to be praying for both those suffering from addiction and those people who love them and are trying to save the lives of the addicted.

By educating ourselves and responding with love, maybe we can take a step in the direction of solving the horrific crisis that is the opioid epidemic.

Geneva College offers a Master’s in Counseling program with a focus on Clinical Mental Health Counseling. To learn more, visit Geneva.edu/graduate/counseling or contact our Graduate Enrollment Manager , Marina Frazier at msfrazie@geneva.edu or 724-847-6697.  

 - Andrew Domencic '19

Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.

Jun 13, 2018

Request Information

Learn more about Geneva College.

Have questions? Call us at 724-847-6505.

Loading...