Branice H. Gbangbolor
Mary Bodelson
English 1121-56
10/30/2022
Research Proposal
The opioid epidemic is slowly becoming a major public health problem across America. Overdose deaths involving opioids have quadrupled since 1999. Over 115 people every day in the United States die from an opioid overdose. No one person or group is to blame for the opioid epidemic (Hirsch, 2017). Rather, it is the result of a complex interaction of factors. Some factors that have contributed to the opioid epidemic include The overprescribing of opioids by doctors. Pharmaceuticalcompanies during the 1990s marketed opioids aggressivelyas an effective method for pain treatment (Hirsch, 2017). It led to more prescriptions being written for these drugs. The second factor is the illegal manufacture and sale of opioids. Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, is being made in illegal laboratories and sold on the black market. It is often mixed with other drugs, such as heroin, to increase its potency.
Third, there is the ease of access to opioids. Opioids are available both legally and illegally. People addicted to opioids often turn to illegal sources, such as heroin, when they can no longer obtain pills. Fourth, the stigma attached to addiction. There is still much stigma attached to addiction, which prevents many people from seeking help. This stigma also makes it difficult to pass laws and regulations that would help to address the opioid epidemic. The opioid epidemic is a complex problem with no easy solutions. It will require a multi-faceted approach to address all of the contributing factors.
The current controversy is the opioid pandemic. The two sides of the argument are those who believe that opioids are the cause of the problem and those who believe that opioids are the solution to the problem. There are well-known people involved in the issue, such as President Donald Trump and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. The former President,Donald Trump, believes that opioids cause the problem and need to be removed from the market.Newt Gingrich believes that opioids are the solution to the problem and should be used to help people in pain (Mendoza, Rivera, and Hansen, 2019).
- My stance
I believe the opioid pandemic is a significant problem in America that needs to be addressed. I have seen firsthand how addiction can ruin lives and tear families apart. I also know that many people who become addicted to opioids start taking them for legitimate medical reasons. However, the ease with which these drugs can be obtained and the fact that they are so addictive make them a serious problem. There is a need for stricter controls andbetter ways to prevent people from becoming addicted to opioids in the first place and to help those who are already addicted get the treatment they need.
- A tentative thesis statement
The opioid pandemic is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.
- A list of possible points to be covered
The following are potential points that could be covered in a paper on the opioid pandemic:
-The number of opioid overdoses in the United States
-Risk factors for opioid overdose
-Preventative measures for opioid overdose
-The impact of the opioid crisis on families, communities, and society
-The opioid epidemic’s economic effects
-Its effects on the healthcare system
Works Cited
Hirsch, R. (2017). The opioid epidemic: it is time to place blame where it belongs. Missouri medicine, 114(2), 82.
Mendoza, S., Rivera, A. S., & Hansen, H. B. (2019). Re‐racialization of Addiction and the Redistribution of Blame in the White Opioid Epidemic. Medical anthropology quarterly
Branice, right now, this doesn’t fit the assignment. I made comments in the margins to help it better fit. So if you would like to revise it, and turn it in again, that would ok. Just make sure to get it to me by Wednesday, 11/2 by 11:59 pm.
Grade: 0/25