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A Population Health Approach to America's Opioid Epidemic
Susan Salmond1, Virginia Allread
1Susan Salmond, EdD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, Executive Vice Dean and Professor, School of Nursing, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, and Research Editor for Orthopaedic Nursing. Virginia Allread, MPH, Executive Assistant, School of Nursing, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ.
Orthopedic Nursing
|February 16, 2019
Summary
The US faces a severe opioid epidemic. A population health approach, including prevention, evidence-based treatment, and harm reduction strategies, is crucial for addressing this crisis.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- The United States is experiencing a public health emergency due to widespread opioid misuse and abuse.
- This crisis is recognized as the deadliest drug epidemic in American history, necessitating urgent attention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current status and historical trends of the opioid epidemic in the US.
- To propose a population health approach for effectively addressing the opioid crisis.
- To outline strategies for prevention, intervention, and harm reduction.
Main Methods:
- Conceptualizing the epidemic from a population health perspective, incorporating upstream, midstream, and downstream strategies.
- Implementing patient screening for opioid use and addiction risk factors in acute care settings.
- Utilizing opioid-sparing analgesics and providing follow-up care focused on non-opioid pain management.
Main Results:
- A population health framework is presented, emphasizing prevention and access to evidence-based interventions.
- The gradualism philosophy is introduced for addiction treatment, focusing on incremental behavior change and harm reduction.
- Community-level interventions are highlighted to address broader contributing factors to opioid use disorder.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive, multi-faceted population health approach is essential to combat the opioid epidemic.
- Integrating prevention, evidence-based treatment with a harm reduction focus, and community engagement is key.
- Addressing the opioid crisis requires strategies that maximize health and functioning at all stages of recovery.