Article Assgnm 2

IND 503 M2.4 Digesting Scientific Research

Is It True? (Quiz)

Are these 8 questions true or false?

1. Opioid abuse is only a problem in big cities. 2. The federal government should be primarily responsible for curbing the opioid

crisis. 3. The opioid crisis is having an impact on economics. 4. The opioid crisis has a minimal economic impact on the private sector. 5. You are more likely to die from an Opioid overdose than a motor vehicle crash. 6. You are more likely to die from an opioid overdose if you have never been

incarcerated. 7. Policies that limit opioid prescribing are effective in saving lives in the short and

long term. 8. Opioid medications increase the ability of people living with chronic pain to

function in life and work.

Answers: 1. False: Opioids are a problem for all cities. In 2016, states that had a higher

concentration of rural areas had some of the highest rates of drug overdose (CDC, 2017). Drug Overdose Deaths

2. False: Although federal guidelines and agencies (such as the FDA) play a role in strategy to address the crisis, state and local responses are important as well. States such as Ohio have implemented programs in an effort to curb the crisis. An “all hands on deck” governmental approach is necessary for success. Combating Opioid Use through A Unified State and Local Response

3. True: In February 2018, Altarum.org released data estimating an excess of $1 trillion in economic impact from 2001-2017. They also provide projected costs through 2020 of an additional $500 billion.

4. False: The private sector experienced losses in productivity (over $25 billion) and increases in health care costs (over $40 billion) due to the opioid epidemic (Altarum, 2018). Economic Toll of Opioid Crisis in US

5. True: For the first time in US history the odds of dying in a car crash is lower than the chance of dying from an opioid overdose. The odds of dying in a car crash are 1 out of 103 and the odds of dying from an accidental opioid overdose are 1 out of 96. (National Safety Council, 2018). Odds of Dying

6. False: Despite efforts to promote recovery while incarcerated and upon re-entry opioid addicts generally seek a high quickly after release and accidently overdose. Opioid Addiction and the Criminal Justice System

7. False: While this is a best practice approach often used, restricted prescribing of opioid pain medication for those who are in severe pain or currently addicted can easily lead people to seek out other means of pain relief, including illegal drugs like

heroin and illicit fentanyl. A 2018 public health study revealed that limiting opioid availability led to increased harm over a 5-10 year period, including death from opioid overdose. However, curtailing of script writing, particularly for those with mild to moderate pain, was found to lead to fewer people becoming addicted. In the long run, these researchers found that adopting strategic prescribing methods led to more positive outcomes in reducing addiction and addiction- related harms. The Opioid Dilemma: Saving Lives in the Long Run Can Take Lives in the Short Run Modeling Health Benefits and Harms of Public Policy Responses to the US Opioid Epidemic.

8. True: As of December 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued guidance strongly recommending health professionals prescribe or co-prescribe naloxone to people at high risk for opioid overdose. People at risk include those who: have known addiction to other substances, take high doses of opioids, or who have health issues or take other medications that can lead to opioid complications. Naloxone is increasingly available in pharmacies across the country. HHS recommends prescribing or co-prescribing naloxone to patients at high risk for an opioid overdose U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Naloxone and Opioid Overdose

Rea ding A Resea rch Art icle

Whether you are in the business, criminal justice, or public administration field, it is likely that research has been conducted in order to support a decision. Are you looking for a solution? Has that solution has been studied in the past? Are you looking for a technology to make your organization more efficient? Are there statistics about the results of implementing a technology?

How do we digest scientific research? Many scientific articles are lengthy, and it can be difficult to locate and determine the most important pieces of information and data that is pertinent for your purposes. This video can assist you in learning how to read and comprehend scientific research articles.

Let’s do some research!

Video

How to Read and Comprehend Scientific Research Articles Time: 5:03 mins Closed Captioned

Remember, you want to ensure that your data are reliable and valid. This means you will want to find data that has been peer-reviewed, published by a reputable author, and/or published in a reputable journal in your field. A good place to begin your research if you are unfamiliar with the reputable publications in your field is the library. Excelsior librarians have created research guides for the vast majority of programs and concentration areas. These research guides can help you to streamline your searches,

and become familiar with publications that can assist you in your research endeavors. A list of these research guides can be found in the resources section of this course. In addition, the library also provides search tips and tricks for those of you exploring research for the first time.

Locating Valid and Reliable Research Researchers use established research methods, based on the scientific method, to find truth. Research methods involve the systematic and objective collection of data through structured observation and experience. Doing so requires specific procedures that have evolved through the millennia and which must be applied in an ethical and unbiased manner.

We use established procedures to structure our observations and interpret our experiences so as to isolate the elements of that which we wish to know. The goal is to eliminate intrinsic and extrinsic influences, leaving untouched the phenomena we wish to examine.

Sadly, complete control is rarely found in the social sciences "people and societies are complex" and so researchers must be aware of threats to the credibility of their work. Many students enter this course apprehensively, due to unfamiliarity with the topic and the complexity of the terms. Success comes from reading past the artificial complexity, seeing that the research process is simpler than it first appears, not being intimidated by big words with simple meanings, and visualizing how the pieces are related. This module introduces the different types of reasoning, which are closely related to the research methods you will examine later in the course. In the end, the important issue is that as a researcher you ensure your work is valid and reliable. And as a consumer of research, you ensure the methods are valid and reliable before you believe the findings.

Caveat emptor applies: let the buyer beware.

Keeping in mind the importance of obtaining valid and reliable data, the library provides many resources as well as guidance on how to evaluate them.

Starting Your Research Sections 1-4 give great tips on how to begin researching your topic. In addition, the below link in the library provides guidance using the online databases as well as web searching.

Library Tutorials In addition to these tools, there are also research guides for specific disciplines. Keep in mind that you may need to use several research guides from different disciplines to find the research you need. Research Guide If you run into any issues, please feel free to contact the library at any time. They are master researchers and great at their jobs, which include assisting students with issues. Contact Your Librarians Becoming an adept researcher is an invaluable skill. Once you leave the college, many of these online databases will not be available to you. Honing your web searching skills for valid and reliable sources will continue to have an impact on both your academic and professional lives.