The opioid epidemic is a source of deep national anguish in the United States: It now kills almost 100 Americans each day, more than motor vehicle accidents. President Donald Trump today officially declared the epidemic a national public health emergency. Although he hasn’t allocated any additional federal funding to address the crisis, the announcement could accelerate efforts at the federal, state, and local levels to identify and implement ways to combat it. As his administration strives to galvanize efforts, it would benefit from drawing on the growing body of research that examines the medical and economic origins and effects of the crisis.
To Combat the Opioid Epidemic, We Must Be Honest About All Its Causes
Doctors, companies, and socioeconomic forces have all played a role.
October 26, 2017
Summary.
On October 26, President Trump is set to officially declare the opioid epidemic a national emergency. But what’s not yet clear is what it will actually take to combat this crisis. Research suggests that it’s a complex problem: Doctors have played their part, pharmaceutical and insurance companies have also been implicated, and socioeconomic forces — unemployment, lack of health insurance, and poverty — also play a powerful role. Ultimately, what matters is not whose fault it is, but what we can do to address the problem. In addition to making medical treatment more widely available, the author suggests that an effective strategy must include regulatory and economic measures. There are no easy answers, but it’s clear that to make any headway at all, an integrated, multi-pronged approach will be essential.