Why is the opioid epidemic hitting rural America especially hard?
The specific types of jobs more prevalent in rural areas — like manufacturing, farming and mining — tend to have higher injury rates. That can lead to more pain, and possibly, to more painkillers.
Is opioid use higher in rural areas?
The CDC analyzed patient opioid prescription data from Athenahealth during 2014-2017 and found that the percentage of patients prescribed an opioid was higher in rural areas than in urban settings.
What demographic is affected by the opioid crisis?
As shown in Figure 1, opioid overdose rates were highest for persons aged 25–34 (34.6 per 100,000), 35–44 (35.0), and 45–54 (34.5) years. Seventy-nine percent of individuals who overdose on opioids are non-Hispanic White, 10\% are Black and non-Hispanic, and 8\% are Hispanic (Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2018).
What group is most affected by the opioid epidemic?
The 25- to 34-age-group is experiencing the most opioid overdose deaths – 12,537 – a 4\% increase from 2018, and a 921\% increase since 1999. Currently, 73\% of preventable opioid deaths occur among those ages 25 to 54, and the number of deaths among individuals 55 and older is growing rapidly.
How does the opioid epidemic affect the environment?
As America confronts the opioid crisis, environmental scientists are warning about a related problem. Chemicals from pain-killers and other drugs often end up in lakes and rivers, creating what some scientists say could be a deadly cocktail for fish and other wildlife. It’s a problem across the Great Lakes region.
How does substance abuse affect the community?
Drug abuse is often accompanied by a devastating social impact upon community life. The present article focuses on the adverse effect of drug abuse on industry, education and training and the family, as well as on its contribution to violence, crime, financial problems, housing problems, homelessness and vagrancy.
Whats is rural?
The Census Bureau defines rural as “any population, housing, or territory NOT in an urban area”. Its definition of rural is closely tied to its urban definition. There are two types of urban areas: “Urbanized Areas” – population of 50,000 or more “Urban Clusters” – population of at least 2,500 and less than 50,000.
How is the opioid crisis affecting the community?
The collateral consequences associated with the opioid epidemic—family members who suffer from substance-use disorder, parents lost to opioid overdose, diverted community resources, and the fraying of neighborhood social connections—have the potential to negatively impact the educational outcomes of children.
What is the US doing to combat the opioid crisis?
Educational initiatives delivered in school and community settings (primary prevention) Supporting consistent use of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) Implementation of overdose education and naloxone distribution programs to issue naloxone directly to opioid users and potential bystanders.
What are the main causes of substance abuse?
Certain factors can affect the likelihood and speed of developing an addiction:
- Family history of addiction. Drug addiction is more common in some families and likely involves genetic predisposition.
- Mental health disorder.
- Peer pressure.
- Lack of family involvement.
- Early use.
- Taking a highly addictive drug.
Why is substance abuse a social issue in South Africa?
Their statistics indicate that nearly 15 percent of South Africa’s population have a drug problem, with substance abuse being a major contributor to poverty, reduced productivity, unemployment, dysfunctional family life, political instability, the escalation of chronic diseases such as acquired immunodeficiency …
Why do we need rural areas?
Rural America is important to all Americans because it is a primary source for inexpensive and safe food, affordable energy, clean drinking water and accessible outdoor recreation. Almost three-quarters of the United States is considered rural, but only 14 percent of the population lives there.