Author: Luphi

March 10, 2019

https://www.emsworld.com/news/1222382/western-penn-overdose-deaths-fall-nearly-50-percent

This article informed the readers about the decline of overdose deaths across West Pensylanvania in 2018. Federal authorities said they continue to combat the opiod crisis and work to further reduce the death rate. Drug overdose deaths fell by 47 percent in Allegheny County between 2017 and 2018, while the number was cut in half in both Beaver and Butler counties. Such deaths fell 44 percent in Washington County and 37 percent in Westmoreland County, according to Brady. The aggressive tactics on both the supply side and demand side significantly reduced the deaths of drug overdose. EMTs and first responders have saved thousands of lives. Federal prosecutors have been hired to go after medical professional who illegally prescribe opioids.

With this on going opioid crisis, we are finally start to seeing some progress. The federal government spend billions of dollars to combat the opioid crsis. The Congress is continuing to pass bills to regulate opioid. I believe that the local government should address this issue more often through the news, it will raise awareness of this epidemic and encourage people to make a safe choice.

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20190221/us-leads-rich-nations-in-drug-overdose-deaths#1

years, driven largely by the opioid epidemic, the researchers noted.

This news article by Steven Reinberg revealed that America has taken the lead in drug overdose deaths, with rates four times higher than 17 wealthy nations. Deaths caused by drug overdose have tripled over the past 20 years. In 2017, more than 70,000 Americans died from drug overdoses. The odds of dying from opioid overdose has surpassed those dying in a car accident. “For over a decade now, the United States has had the highest drug overdose mortality among its peer countries,” Ho said in a university news release. Drug deaths in the U.S. are more than 27 times higher than in Italy and Japan. Drug overdose deaths have also affected life expectancy. It made up 12 percent of the life expectancy gap among men and 8 percent among women between the U.S. and other wealthy countries.

In 2017, more than 70,000 Americans died from opioid epidemic. An average of 130 Americans dies from opioid overdose every day. It is becoming the leading cause of death. People often do not recognize this crisis. We discussed the process of passing public policies in class. How will the government respond to this crisis?

The researchers said the epidemic is being driven by factors that include fee-for-service reimbursement systems and linking doctors’ pay to patient satisfaction. Between 2013-2015, almost $40 million were spent on opioid marketing targeting doctors. I think there should be a limit on prescription drugs.

For the first time on record, the odds of accidentally dying from an opioid overdose in the United States are now greater than those of dying in an automobile accident.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/14/health/opioid-deaths-united-states-surpass-road-accidents/index.html

This news article by Kevin Flower and Meera Senthilingam presented the audiences with the new drug overdose statistics. By examining a variety of federal and state data, the lifetime odds of dying of an accidental opioid overdoes were 1 in 96. Compared to motor vehicle accidents the odds were 1 in 103. Comparing 2017 to 2016, there is an increase of 11% in poisoning deaths (including opioid overdoses). The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics reports that drug overdose deaths reached a new high of 70,000 in 2017. The drug overdose death rates increased in 35 of 50 states from 2013 to 2017.

An average of 130 Americans dies from opioid overdose every day. It is becoming the leading cause of death. People often do not recognize this crisis. We discussed the process of passing public policies in class. How will the government respond to this crisis.

I believe an effective way to combat the opioid epidemic is to provide healthcare providers with useful opioid overdose data. And from there they can use the data as a guide for improving opioid prescribing. The government can pass regulations on prescription drugs. Local government should address this issue through the news. Also, raise awareness of this ongoing epidemic and encourage people to make a safe choice.

Painkiller marketing aimed at physicians has been linked to higher numbers of overdoses in a study investigating the causes of the opioid crisis gripping the U.S.

https://www.newsweek.com/opioid-crisis-overdoses-rise-after-pharma-advertises-directly-doctors-1295828

This news article by Kashmira Gander on 1/18/19 informed the readers about the connections between a rise in opioid marketing and a higher rate of prescription drug deaths. The authors of the study published in the journal JAMA Network Open found that between August 2013 and December 2015, pharmaceutical companies spent $39.7 million on materials aimed at more than 67,507 physicians across 2,208 U.S. counties. Today, an average of 130 people die from an opioid overdose each day. The role of advertising on doctors can be used to explain why this is happening. A past study found that Medicare doctors who had seen opioid adverts were more likely to prescribe the drugs to these patients.

Opioid Epidemic became the leading cause of death in recent years. In class, we discussed the process of passing public policy. In what way will the government combat this opioid crisis? The government have to pass policies to address the crisis.

Between 2013-2015, almost $40 million were spent on opioid marketing targeting doctors. I agree with the article that the painkiller marketing causes a higher number of overdose. I think there should be a limit on prescription drugs. Healthcare is also a factor in this opioid crisis, there should be an adjustment made on the healthcare that relates to the prescription drugs.