In 2016, about 11.8 million Americans abused prescription pain medication and opioids, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. In 2015, drug overdose was the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, with more than 52,000 people dying in 2015 alone.
That number rose by over 6,500 Americans to 59,000 in one year.
More than 60 percent of those 53,000 drug overdose-induced deaths were caused by opioids, either in the form or heroin or prescription medication.
Opioid abuse and opioid addiction is a serious problem in the United States.
Opioids are a class of drugs that include heroin, fentanyl and pain relievers that are made available through prescription such as oxycodone and morphine, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse.
Opioids are drugs that are developed to replicate the pain reducing properties of opium, which is why they are popular in pain relieving medications. They also bind receptors in the brain and spinal cord, which disturbs signals of pain as well as releases dopamine.
This class of drugs is incredibly addictive because when an individual takes opioids for a long period of time, his or her body stops producing endorphins because of the artificial endorphins created by the opioid. The result is that opioid users no longer experience positive feelings without the drug, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teachers.
On Cabrini’s campus, students have resources that help with such addictions.
“Health Services provides ongoing drug and alcohol awareness information in a variety of formats, including the New Stall Times, our Facebook page and campus bulletin boards,” Susan Fitzgerald, director of Health Services Nurse, said. “On campus, students should use CaPS as a resource if they have concerns about their drug and/or alcohol use or if they have concerns about a friend.”
CaPS is the Counseling and Psychological Services on Cabrini’s campus, located in Grace Hall. They are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with walk in hours from noon to 1 p.m. each day.
“One of the things on campus is the clubs and extracurriculars that are offered at Cabrini. If you’re involved in something that is outside of you, it carries an experience that is positive for the soul almost,” Joseph Kelly, a counselor at Cabrini, said. “When you commit yourself to the service of others, or realize you’re part of a team, that’s a therapeutic tool in and of itself.”
Outside of counseling and extracurriculars, there are chapel services. Students are also encouraged to speak with the resident assistants in the residence halls. There are counseling services outside of campus and narcotics anonymous. These resources are available on CaPS’ website.
To combat the rise in the opioid abuse, President Donald Trump directed the Department of Health and Human Services to declare the opioid crisis a public health emergency last October. He will not be providing any funds to help combat the emergency, as is usually done when an emergency such as this is declared.
Trump said, “Whether you are a dealer or doctor or trafficker or a manufacturer, if you break the law and illegally peddle these deadly poisons, we will find you, we will arrest you and we will hold you accountable.”
