User:Mcasa074/Understanding the Opioid Epidemic

Understanding the Opioid Epidemic shares the accounts of families and patients that have been victimized by the opioid epidemic. It also shares testimonies from esteemed professionals that share their professional and personal opinion on the matter. This series brings awareness to the opioid addiction in the United states by identifying the factors influencing the up-rise of the opioid epidemic and the necessary steps to prevent it. The series was produced, directed, and written by John Grant and it was released January 17, 2018 on PBS.

== Synopsis  == The documentary incorporates valued accounts from experienced professionals and families that were directly affected by opioid addiction. Drug overdoses are the leading cause of death of Americans under the age of 50. More than 240 million prescriptions are written each year for opioid pain medication (enough for every adult in America to have their own bottle). This highlights the impact opioids have in communities all over the United States and the next steps to end this epidemic. The root of the problem is a compilation of factors, for that reason one solution is not enough. The medical community has been over-prescribing opioids and 1 in 4 people are expected to get addicted. Well-meaning Doctors try to help patients with the pain but underestimate how addictive the drugs are and end up contributing to the problem. When patents are taken off the medicine, they turn to cheaper options on the streets (like heroin and fentanyl). The effects of oxycodone and hydrocodone are indistinguishable from heroin. As prescriptions increased, addiction increased, and deaths caused by opioid addiction increased. Pharmaceutical companies are also responsible for the uprise of the Opioid epidemic because they advertised opioid pain relievers as safe, effective and non-addictive. By overselling the benefits and understating the risks, physicians and patients trusted that they were. Patients are also contributing to the problem because they demand for prescriptions. Health insurance that covers the cost of this drugs reinforce the prescriptions. There is not one simple solution, every contributing factor needs to be directly addressed. First, it must be acknowledged that there's a problem so it is important to talk about it, share experiences, and educate anyone who's not aware. When families affected by it share their accounts and create organizations it resonates with people. Schools, parents, government should have an active role identifying and communicating this as a chronic disease. Look at overarching prescribing patterns of doctors and contact doctors that over prescribe. Make them aware that they are over-prescribing and send a CDC checklist of when they should issue opioids. Avoid over-prescribing for certain pains that could use alternative treatments instead. Insurance should pay for comprehensive pain management services. The way to get insurance companies to pay for alternative treatments is by making clinical studies that prove that therapies outside of narcotics can alleviate pain, with this evidence insurance companies might be willing to cover the expense. Programs that only deal on abstinence do not work for long term recoveries. Opioid addiction is a chronic disease that needs to be managed for a lifetime, any long term effect must be focused on prevention. Opioid addiction must be dealt with as any epidemic is dealt with: prevent people from getting it and treat those who already have it.

Accounts
Michael Israel’s parents Avi and Julie Israel


 * Michael had Crohn’s disease, a painful gastrointestinal condition. He was prescribed strong opioid medications and became heavily dependent. After his death, his parents obtained his medical records and found out that he was prescribed 185 pills a month.

Cameron’s mother


 * Cameron broke his collarbone wrestling and he was prescribed Percocet. Shortly, he became addicted and turned to heroine. Eventually, he died of an overdose.

Shanda Lester (principal Oceana middle school) and Debra Davis (teacher)


 * West Virginia has one of the highest opioid prescription rates in the country and it has the highest rates of opioid overdoses and deaths. Many students are affected by drugs in their immediate family ( they have to meet their basic needs before they reach out to English or math). Students shared their experiences when the senator visited the school:
 * At just 5 years old, a student experienced her stepdad beat her mother to force her to take drugs, since she refused he killed her mom by shooting her up 3 times with oxycontin and proceeded to end his own life.

Patient that underwent surgery


 * A man had a Tumor in his spine, after his surgery he was sent home with an opioid medication which he became addicted to.

Physician and expert appearances
Physicians


 * Dr. David Thomas works for the national institute on drug abuse
 * Dr. Richard Blondell is a professor and vice chair for addictions at the University of Buffalo and director of the national center for physician training in addiction medicine
 * Dr. Andrew Kolodny is director of opioid policy research at Brandeis University and founder of physicians for responsible opioid prescribing
 * Dr. Harold Paz is the chief medical officer for Aetna, also had an extensive career as a physician and healthcare administrator
 * Dr. Daniel Alfred is a professor of medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine, he direct an opioid prescribing educational program

Experts


 * Lou Michel is a reporter Buffalo news and has compiled research that suggests that legally prescribed pain medication are the ones staring the addiction
 * Kim miller works for Prestera center, she shared that young people do not think about the side effects of the drugs because the doctor prescribes it and the pharmacy approves it.
 * Ann Constantino is the CEO of horizon health services
 * Mike Cochrane is a prosecutor
 * Anne Pritchett is the vice president for policy and research at PhRMA (organization representing pharmaceutical companies)