Milwaukee: New Methods Needed to Combat Substance Abuse

Opioid overdose deaths related to the current epidemic are undoubtedly the most talked about public health issues in the US today. Clinicians are among the “usual” suspects because they are the ones to prescribe opioids. Despite the fact that these medications are extremely helpful when used right for certain conditions, they are also very addictive.

And so the most common approach is regulatory in nature. The idea is to decrease the number of opioids being prescribed so that the people who are at risk of getting addicted is limited in the first place. The CDC guidelines in Milwaukee on prescribing opioids for chronic pain, aimed at primary care physicians, has been interpreted by many states as a requirement for all prescribers not to exceed certain amounts of opioids per day.

Another approach towards the opioid crisis is research-focused. Academic, for-profit, and nonprofit organizations are conducting studies on the benefits of opioids in managing chronic pain, as well as the other risks of prescription medications. Other studies are focusing on the damage caused by opioid abuse. More and more studies are focusing on the adverse effects of addiction for certain demographics.

Researchers in Milwaukee observe the trends and the shifts that are happening every year, in order to track the development of the epidemic. This allows them to give people an idea of how huge the problem is, and hopefully create more awareness. It also helps formulate a solution by simply showing the extent of the problem.

Many recent studies confirm that the primary solution to the opioid crisis is to minimize prescribing.

However, since 2010, the quantity of prescribed opioids in the US has consistently decreased, while the number of opioid overdose deaths has continued to increase. A recent analysis projected that the number of individuals using illicit opioids will likely increase by 61 percent between 2015 and 2025.

It is even more concerning that all interventions tested which result in prevention of opioid misuse alone are only expected to decrease overdose deaths by only 3.0 to 3.5 percent. This includes online prescription monitoring programs, regulations about maximum doses, etc.

This highlights the need for new methods and new approaches when it comes to the opioid crisis.

The simultaneous decrease in prescription opioids and increase in opioid overdose deaths is very counterintuitive and so other approaches need to be considered to solve the epidemic.

For example, mental health should always be considered as part of a patient-centered approach. It means doctors and healthcare providers need to be able to get to know the patient better so that they can treat their underlying issues. Addiction is finally being treated as a medical condition because of the epidemic. However, mental health problems in Milwaukee are still not being addressed as consistently as physical conditions.

Researchers must also separate statistics regarding opioid overdoses and illegal drug-related overdoses. As prescribed drugs become less available, greater numbers of people are turning to illegal street drugs in order to get high.

More conversations are taking place around the use of naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses—which means things are now moving in the right direction.

If someone in the family is struggling with opioid addiction, it is important to seek help. A combination of medical detox and behavioral therapy can go a long way in the fight against drug abuse. But because every individual is affected by addiction differently, a comprehensive program tailored to their specific needs is necessary. Look for a nearby addiction treatment facility in Milwaukee today and find out how drug treatment programs work.