Implication of Executive Order 16-09

Running head: IMPLICATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 16-09
Implication of Executive Order 16-09
Phuong Phan
Walden University

IMPLICATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 16-09 1
Part 1
Washington is currently facing the opioid overdose and abuse issue which involves
prescribed opioids and heroin. The death rates resulting from opioid overdose has
significantly increased in the past years. As much as 700 deaths were reported in the year
2015 for overdose (Governor.wa.gov., 2019). Also, it has been observed from a survey that
57% of those syringe exchange clients who inject heroin claimed that they were subjected to
prescription opiates before they started using heroin. The purpose of this project is to
understand the legal, ethical and policy implication of the Executive Order 16-09 addressing
the Opioid Use Public Health Crisis, which was developed to combat the issue of overdose of
inappropriate opioid prescribing and its abuse. This project analyses the legal, ethical and
policy implication of this policy. The policy maker is Jay Inslee (Doh.wa.gov 2018)
Legal and ethical implications
The doctors will be facing more challenges before prescribing opioid and heroin as a
result of Executive Order 16-09. As opioid and heroin are used to treat chronic pain, the
resources of the medical treatment for the health care agencies will be limited to treat the
issue. If the supply of opioids is restricted and reduced, the general people, as a result of this
issue, will be exposed to the difficulties of treating the chronic pain issues. The reduction in
the availability of opioids will not ensure its misuse or abuse. The policy lacks the measure to
restrict the chances of overdose of such drugs, rather it discusses the measures to recover
from such overdose. The health care agencies may also face the chilling effect of the policy
and might refrain from prescribing opioid as a measure to treat chronic pain. It directly makes
the health care organisations responsible for any prescription drug overdose. In addition to
this, to decide when to use and when not to use opioid may become an ethical dilemma for
the doctors.

IMPLICATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 16-09 2
Policy implications
However, the effort to reduce opioid and heroin abuse are well intended in the policy
as it may help in preventing the overdose death and associated risks. The objectives of this
policy also complies with the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 as well as
the Healthcare Quality Improvement Act of 1986. The policy has also helped in spreading
awareness of the best practices of opioid prescribing. The consequences of opioid overdose
has been promoted through the policy. The illegal practices of drug supply will be regulated
with the help of the proposed strategies. The strategies of Executive Order 16-09significantly
makes available the medication for the opioid abused (Stopoverdose.org. 2018). The policy
provides an access to utilize the opioid use disorder medication in criminal justice system.
Pregnant women are made aware of the opioid misuse and the process to recognise a victim
of opioid overdose are also spread through this policy.
Conclusion
Hence, apart from the ethical, legal issues of implementing restriction on opioid use,
Executive Order16-09 is an effective way to reduce illegal dealing of opioid and heroin
overdose. An actual implementation of this policy will help in reducing the emerging concern
of issue resulting from heroin and opioid overdose will be addressed.