What is the number one cause of accidental death in the United States?

With the recent evolution of the opioid addiction crisis, drug overdose now ranks as the most prominent cause of accidental death in the United States. According to the Teen Rehab Center, nearly 19,000 Americans died from excessive prescription painkiller intake in 2014. However, since drug abuse a taboo topic, the media tends to overlook the issue, and conversations about the problem are forgone. Nevertheless, opioid addiction cases continue to grow today, demanding solutions from society.

What exactly is an opioid, and how does it create a devastating trend of abuse among users?  Opioid is the chemical substance found in many drugs such as heroin, morphine, and prescription pain relievers. The euphoric effect of opioid creates inescapable cycles of dependence. Users often intensify these effects by combining opioid with alcohol: a recipe for extreme addiction and lethality. Since 1999, the number of unintentional overdose deaths quadrupled. In 2012, an estimated 2.1 million Americans abused opioid on a regular basis.

As of 2017, societal factors are accelerating the opioid crisis at an alarming rate. “Big pharma” practices ensure that drug development correlates with profit-based incentives. According to The Los Angeles Times, Purdue Pharma identified hundreds of doctors who recklessly prescribed high doses of OxyContin, a semisynthetic opioid. Increased dependence lends to more sales, so healthcare providers with questionable morals are compelled to overprescribe addictive painkillers.

A portion of the addiction crisis also stems from the illegal selling and purchasing of opioid pain relievers. Flaws in the legal system prevent the effective use of the nation’s resources to combat this phenomenon. Prosecutors in Baltimore, for example, devote their efforts in small drug cases, rather than focusing on the larger problem at hand.

Unfortunately, the availability and commonness of opioids have severely impacted the teenage populace. Approximately forty-four teens die each day from overdose. Gateway drugs common to young adults, such as tobacco or alcohol, can heighten the future risk of opioid addiction among teens.

Jenna Yang ‘18 reflects, “The problem with opioid addiction is extremely urgent and measures must be taken immediately to combat the spread of the drug. We are losing too many lives to the hands of drugs, which have torn families and friends apart. Something needs to be done.”

Although Yang desires tough action, we must also recognize opioid as a crucial drug for responsible patients. Therefore, we must maintain a balance between the prescription of opioid as a pain alleviator and the regulation of opioid against abuse.

One solution suggests emphasizing education on the prevalence and dangers of opioid. Allen Wang ‘19 remarks, “Since drug overdose has increased among teens today, we need to open up more discussions about how to prevent it.” Although the stigma of drug abuse acts as a barrier, schools should play an active role in bridging students to the realities of addiction. Long-term sustainability of solutions depends on how society removes stigma from drug addiction.

Another solution favors increased availability of rehabilitation resources. Nonprofit organizations that offer therapy and anonymous hotlines to tackle addiction should be given additional resources to carry out their work.

The nation must create a cohesive effort to prevent opioid abuse. The opioid addiction crisis afflicts all demographics and continues to claim thousands of lives per year.