Rosales !

Judith Rosales

Instructor Eileen Morris

POLS 155: Section 27

Backgrounder Assignment 3

4 March 2018

Backgrounder Assignment 3

My policy area is a the opioid crisis that is affecting our country deeply and I want to

focus on the how we can prevent more lives being lost due to a drug that an American can have

easy access to. The Backgrounder in Drug policy showcased that the Drug Enforcement

Administration (DEA) reveals that signs of overdoses include slowed breath, constricted pupils,

cold clammy skin, extreme drowsiness, and cold clammy skin. I also learned that there are two

different types of opioids like synthetic opioids and natural opioids. Synthetic opioids are made

in a lab from chemicals like methadone, fentanyl, and meperidine. I learned the different names

opioids are referred to on the streets like: Mud, Horse, Big H, Black Tar, Oxycotton, Dover’s

Powder, and Brown Sugar. I got to learn the different shapes and sizes opioids come in because I

used to think opioids were just pills. Some of the different shapes opioids come in are in skin

patches, lolipops, syrups, powder from colors white, brown, and black. I learned that the term

“Opioid” come from the Greek word “stupor” which means a variety of substances that dull the

senses and relive the pain. Opioids are currently illegal to distribute, purchase, or use outside

medical research. Opioids can also be injected, sniffed, or smoked, and swallowed which is way

more ways than I thought there was. Opioids can be purchased on line which is interesting

because I had no idea they were sold on the internet.

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The leading cause of deaths for Americans under the age of 50 are overdoses due to

opioids. In 2016, there has been 64,000 deaths caused by opioids and each year the number

increases because of there is such an easy access to opioids. The government’s account of drug

deaths in 2016 was the first national research to break down the growth by drug revealed that

deaths involving synthetic opioids had risen 54 percent. I had no idea New Hampshire was the

state with the leading deaths caused by opioids. President Trump has declared this opioid

epidemic the most deadliest drug crisis in American history.

Roughly 100 Americans die each day because they misuse opioids which is an alarming

number that needs to be reduced. In 2015, the amount of opioids prescribed to Americans was

three times higher than it was in 1999. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention claims that

roughly 30 percent of young Americans think it is okay to take opioids with out a prescription.

Another survey revealed that 1 in 10 Americans knew someone who someone that had taken

opioids by using another persons prescription. The American Society of Anesthesiologists

reveals a study that claims Millennials will less likely use opioids as to treat their symptoms or

pain. I believe the City of Sacramento should pay more attention to this public health issue

because some citizens opioids like they are candy and are getting many addicted to the drug.
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Works Cited

Salam, Maya. “The Opioid Epidemic: A Crisis Years in the Making” The New York Times, 26

October 2017 https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/26/us/opioid-crisis-public-health-

emergency.html

Trimble, Megan. “5 Fast Facts on the U.S. Opioid Addiction Crisis” U.S News and World Report

26 October 2017 https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2017-10-26/what-

is-the-opioid-crisis-5-facts-on-addiction-epidemic

“Drug Fact Sheet Narcotics” Drug Enforcement Administration https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/

drug_data_sheets/Narcotics.pdf