Opioid-Induced Crisis in Washington, DC

While the information provided in this essay is geared toward Atlanta, Georgia, it is applicable to everyone, regardless of location.

Apart from the Co-Vid 19’s urgent calls, you may have seen many stories about the drug crisis.

The situation has deteriorated steadily in the majority of states, with a substantial increase in opioid-related overdose deaths.

How do opioids work?

Opioids commonly numb the brain, stomach, and spine’s pain receptors. This impairs the spinal cord’s and brain’s ability to communicate properly.

While these opioids are often given to treat moderate to severe pain, they have significant risks for individuals. Prolonged opioid usage to treat chronic pain poses the greatest risk of developing a drug use problem.

Prescribed vs Illicit Use of Opioids

Whether or whether they are prescribed by a physician, opioids should indeed be taken with great care.

Legal circumstances

Opioids are often given by physicians to treat severe or chronic pain. Several of the most frequent scenarios include the following:

• Chronic Back Pain & Prolonged Migraines

When no other medicine is effective in relieving chronic pain, patients are often treated with opioids.

• Sports Traumas

Athletes and active sportsmen occasionally suffer serious injuries that need a more intensive narcotic therapy to assist in their recuperation.

• Car Accidents

Serious car accidents are likely to result in many fractured bones and organ failure. Opioid treatment may assist in managing post-operative symptoms.

• Cancer Patients

Chemotherapy is very unpleasant, and patients often need analgesics, such as specific opioids.

Illicit drug abuse

When opioids are not used under medical supervision, they offer a significant risk of overdose. The cause for this is due to the drug’s composition.

Addicts are unable to identify when they have taken enough of the drug because their pain receptors are numb. They continue to satiate their desires until their bodies give out. Without urgent medical help, deaths are a certainty at this stage.

The Opioid Numbers in Washington, DC

If you’ve ever seen the famous television series House MD, you’re likely familiar with two prominent opioid brand names: Vicodin and Oxycontin.

Fentanyl, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Codeine, Morphine, and Oxymorphone are among the most frequently prescribed drugs.

Heroin is the most lethal and misused illicit opioid in Georgia. The street names for dope, horse, smack, junk, hero, and snow are Dope, Horse, Smack, Junk, Hero, and Snow. Fentanyl is classified as the second most dangerous drug. The combination of the two is lethal and has been identified as the leading cause of fatal drug overdoses.

On a nationwide basis, two out of every three overdose deaths are caused by opioid addiction, amounting to approximately 130 deaths each day.

Drug overdose rates in GA have risen dramatically over the last couple of decades. The state is now one of the top three states most hit by opioid-related overdose fatalities. According to statistics, heroin-related fatalities have quadrupled in the state, while prescription-opioid-related deaths have doubled.

Drug treatment options in GA

With the opioid crisis escalating, the local government realised the need for increased investment in treatment centres. The variety of treatment facilities in GA has risen dramatically, providing patients with both cheap and luxury options.

• Medical Detox

Medical detoxification is the initial step in treating patients diagnosed with a moderate to severe opioid addiction. Their bodies must eliminate any potentially harmful chemicals in order to prepare for the remainder of the series of treatments.

Hospitalization or admittance to a rehabilitation facility is recommended, since symptoms of withdrawal may be very severe. Patients should insist on continuous medical monitoring for their own safety in case their vital signs unexpectedly deteriorate.

• Inpatient Programs

Following detoxification, individuals are often referred to inpatient treatments. It is critical that they continue to live in an environment devoid of triggers and bad influences.

When opioid addicts have a co-occurring condition, it is preferable that they stay in a supervised institution for complicated therapy. They may need specialised medicines, psychotherapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy.

The response of the local government

Not only has Atlanta secured more federal treatment money, but it has also strengthened penalties for illicit opioid distribution. Local officials created the “LIVE.LONG. Atlanta” initiative to reduce overdose deaths by boosting access to and usage of the overdose reversal medication Naloxone.

The state hopes to decrease opioid-related crimes and fatalities by 50% within a year with the help of the public and different non-governmental organisations.