Case Study: Opiates
Havana N. Randall
Liberty University
HLTH 252: Drugs in Society
Dr. Martin
September 9, 2024
Case Study: Opiates
The opioid crisis has become a significant public health issue in the United States, with
fentanyl playing a substantial role in the surge of overdose deaths. This case study will explore
the issues surrounding opioid addiction, the health implications of opioid use, the moral and
biblical implications, and the societal concerns associated with opioid use. Additionally,
evidence-based public health interventions and education strategies will be discussed.
The Issues
Opioids are natural semi-synthetic or synthetic chemicals that interact with opioid
receptors in the body and brain to reduce the perception of pain (Das, 2022, para.1). Opioids are
prescribed to patients who have just undergone surgery, have chronic pain, or are at the end of
their life and family members want them to be comfortable so doctors will prescribe an opioid to
them. Prescription opioids include oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, fentanyl, methadone,
morphine, and others. The opioids produce feelings of euphoria, which increase the odds that
people will continue using them despite the negative consequences (Das, 2022, para. 6). Opioids
become very addictive fast, and coming off opioids is extremely hard; people tend to start feeling
restless, getting anxiety, get the chills, vomiting, and frustration thus leading to the individual
wanting more to get rid of the pain. An individual can also easily get to the streets to find illegal
drugs such as heroin.
Health Implications of Opioid Use
The health implications of opioid use are extensive and impactful, affecting not only
physical health but also mental and emotional well-being. These implications include the risk of
addiction, respiratory depression, overdose, and infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis.
Additionally, opioid use can lead to long-term neurological changes, cardiovascular issues, and
psychological effects ( Bryce, T. N., et al., 2021). Addressing these multifaceted implications
with comprehensive approaches to healthcare and intervention is crucial.
Moral/Biblical Implications of Opioids
From a medical perspective, it is a doctor’s moral duty to eliminate pain and suffering for
their patients, but when choosing pain management options for patients, physicians should
always monitor the patients’ taking opioids for their chronic pain since it is easy to become
chemically dependent on the drug.
Biblically, as a Christian, you are not forbidden to take medication as long as you use
them wisely and focus on taking them for what is needed. Addiction is not just for the weak,
poor, certain religions or races; addiction can happen to anyone. Morals will be thrown out the
door you start craving something you never thought you would, and yes, you turn your back on
God, but because he is the Almighty God and a forgiving one, as long as you surrender yourself
to him and break away from the evil that was holding you, you will realize your morals are still
there. There is a song that I love to sing and was a big part of my recovery. I am “ No Longer
Slaves” by Bethel Music. The words to that song will move you. So biblically, if you are a true
believer, you will not judge one for their transgressions but will show them how mighty our God
is and help them restore their hope and faith so that they can live eternal life.
Societal concerns from the use of Opioids
Opioid misuse has become one of the gravest and most consequential public health
threats facing the United States today (Smith,2020). According to the Center for Disease Control,
the National Center for Health Statistics shows that there were an estimated 107,622 drug
overdose deaths in the United States during 2021, which was an increase of 15% from the 93,655
deaths estimated in 2020. Out of the overdoses in 2020, 70,029 were opioid-related, and 80,816
in 2021 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,2021). These deaths alone should make
people realize there is indeed a crisis happening and something needs to be done. It is creating
motherless and fatherless children, which in turn will, unfortunately, end up the same because
they will have issues from either being raised by opioid addicts or raised by their grandparents
and being abandoned by their parents.
The Department of Health and Human Services has issued a nationwide public health
emergency, typically only used for natural disasters and last several months, but this has been
ongoing since 2017 (Smith, 2020). Moreover, opioid addiction in society includes a strain on
relationships, higher rates of unemployment, criminal activity, homelessness, and the spread of
diseases.
Opioids and Chronic Pain: An Analytic Review of the Clinical Evidence
This article thoroughly examines the medical research on using opioids to treat long-
lasting non-cancer pain in the United States. It discusses how well opioids work to manage pain
and the differences in how much opioid is needed and the side effects.
The Opioid Crisis: A Contextual, Social-Ecological Framework
This article looks at the opioid crisis using a social-ecological framework. It examines the
individual, social, and environmental factors that affect opioid use and misuse. The article
stresses the importance of a comprehensive approach to dealing with the opioid crisis,
considering the interaction of several factors.
Educating individuals about the risks of opioid use and providing counseling on
alternative pain management strategies can help prevent misuse, medication-assisted treatment,
the distribution of Narcan, and harm reduction strategies like the need exchange programs can
help save many of lives.
References
Bryce, T. N., Schwab, J., Siddall, P., & Wong, T. (2021) Opioids and your health. Model Systems
Knowledge Translation Center. https://www.msktc.org/SCI/factsheets
Center for Disease Control and Preventation. (2021). Provisional data on drug
Overdose deaths in the United States. National Center for Health Statistics.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs.pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2021/202110714.htm
Das, S. (2022, December). Opioids and opioid use disorder. American Psychiatric Association.
Retrieved from Psychiatry.org - Opioid Use Disorder
Nadeau, S. E., Wu, J. K., & Lawhern, R. A. (2021). Opioids and Chronic Pain: An Analytic
Review of the Clinical Evidence. Frontiers in Pain Research, 2, 721357.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpain.2021.721357
Smith, H. J. (2020). Ethics, public health, and addressing the opioid crisis. The AMA Journal of
Ethic, 22(8), E647-650. https://doi.org/10.1001/amajethics.2020.647
