It's time to Say "NO" to drugs

 

The untimely demises of such notables as Micheal Jackson and Prince Rogers Jackson,  has sparked a national conversation on the drug Fentanyl.Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that has come to be a significant threat to Public health. Fentanyl is also a key ingredient in Oxycontin And has played a significant role in the rise in mortality rates due to opioid abuse as it hinders respiration and causes death quicker then other opioids.From 2012-2014 the number of Fentanyl related deaths doubled from 2628 to 5544. These recent statistics have placed Fentanyl at the center of the opioid crisis. Government agencies are struggling as to how to address the issue as well as the increased fatalities. To truly address this issue, policymakers need to differentiate between use reduction and harm reduction. Use reduction is about reducing consumption, Harm reduction is about reducing the negative consequences of usage. In regards to a harm reduction approach, many addicts who overdose on fentanyl aren't aware their using it As dealers often cut it with heroin. Recent drug busts in Canada revealed that 89% of seized synthetic Oxycontin tablets contained  Fentanyl. In the United States it was also found in dosages of Norco and Xanax. Although producing Fentanyl requires specialized knowledge and equipment, fentanyl use is on the rise most likely due to cheaper production costs, and potency.Heroin costs about $65,000 per kilogram, Fentanyl costs about $3,500  thus the dealers have incentives to utilize it to offset pricing. Inexperienced dealers pose an even greater risk to public health. Policies need to be put in place that eliminate incentives to utilize fentanyl in concocting Their synthetic products.
Traditional drug  enforcement emphasizes on use reduction which includes deterring distribution, harsher prosecution of addicts and cracking down on illegal laboratories.  Cracking down on illegal labortories often disrupts the  market for the substance, the issue with user reduction approaches is they can make the problems worse.  Concepts such as prosecuting those possessing paraphanelia increases needle sharing which in turns opens doors to spread HIV.  As a result many law enforcement agencies have created initiatives that coincide with public health interests, thus the goal becomes not suppressing but channel in a different direction. Another solution that has proved effective is to hold individuals and organizations that deal illegal substances accountable with harsher prosecution and sentencing that is more severe in nature.Imposing the same in cases where Fentanyl is being distributed Would also prove to be effective. Healthcare also has a large role in this issue in addressing mortality rates and responding to overdoses Via opioid antagonizers such as Naloxone. Naloxone has been proven effective but needs to be applied in the right dosage and in an immediate fashion. Naloxone kits need to be made available in higher dosages and be readily available to first responders. The kits should also be made available to users with a training provided regarding what to do in the event of an overdose. In many states this will take revisions to regulations on pharmacies. Expanding  access to chemical dependency  treatment has been a long time concern as well but it has been addressed to a certain extent by the 21st century cures act. Medical professionals also need to recognize that medication - assisted treatment is also not without risk. By reducing tolerance into those who continue to use or have been in an environment that temporarily prohibits substance abuse such as an inmate that is related from jail. The rise of Fentanyl, it's affordability and it's potency pose a significant threat to public health which requires a timely response and effective policies that combines prevention, treatment and harm-reduction approaches into solutions that promote safety health and positive choices for individuals and for our communities