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Pages:
5 pages/≈1375 words
Sources:
10 Sources
Level:
APA
Subject:
Health, Medicine, Nursing
Type:
Essay
Language:
English (U.K.)
Document:
MS Word
Date:
Total cost:
$ 21.6
Topic:

Opioid Crisis in America and the Pivotal Role of Registered Nurses in Combating it (Essay Sample)

Instructions:

this was an essay on THE OPIOID CRISIS IN AMERICA in the health sector. the sample talked about combating the Opioid Crisis in America, how Registered Nurses can play a pivotal role in strategies aimed at decreasing the overuse of opioids, by positioning themselves in key areas that address Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation.

source..
Content:


Opioids Crisis in U.S.A
Name
Institution
Opioids crisis in U.S.A
Introduction
Opioids are narcotic preparations that individuals use as depressants when they get to the central nervous system. They are natural products of poppy plants or can be produced synthetically from other alkaloids. The opioid crisis occurs owing to the prompt escalation in the use and misuse of prescription medicines such as morphine and non-prescribed opioid drugs. In the USA, opioids are used as prescription pain-relievers, oxycodone included mostly administered as oxycontin and hydrocodone administered as Vicodin which is considered to have a very strong pain-relieving effect (Arthur & Reddy, 2019). Opioids cause sedative effects to the brain and thus affect pathways that regulate breathing which can lead to death. The availability of these narcotic drugs and pharmacological action has made these drugs widespread both for therapeutic purposes and also used by individuals as recreational drugs despite their risk of addiction and abuse. When used for medical treatment, they cause side effects such as nausea, confusion, drowsiness and feelings of euphoria (Arthur & Reddy, 2019).
Magnitude of the Opioid Crisis in America
Opioid overdose is one of the leading causes of death in America currently. From statistics about 90 individuals in America die from the same. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), there has been a sharp increase in the incidences of opioid overdose in the last two decades (Arthur & Reddy, 2019).The factor has led to the misuse of opioids becoming a major killer. According to the United States Drugs Enforcement Administration, the fatal cases brought about mainly from drugs for prescription and abuse of heroin have risen to epidemic levels (Stamer, Sandkuhl, & Zeiner, 2016).In 2016, almost half of all deaths from overdose of opioids involved abuse of opioids meant for prescription. This crisis decreased the life expectancy of Americans with men registering a massive decrease in life expectancy than women. Many Americans died from overdoses which recorded higher percentages compared to 2015. Prescription opioids are mostly useful for pain-relieving, but people develop a tolerance for these drugs, so higher doses are required to achieve the same pain-relieving effects. Death rates have continuously increased over the years caused by drug overdose by either car accidents or guns (Zhao, 2019).
In 2015, fentanyl was the most abused drug which had greater effects than heroin and 

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