Opioid Policy Analysis: A Comprehensive Healthcare Overview

This report analyzes the opioid policy, focusing on its impact on healthcare, public health, and strategies for addressing the opioid epidemic. The report examines the federal policy's role in controlling opioid intake and developing alternative therapeutic measures, while also addressing the disproportionate impact on specific demographics, such as African Americans. It highlights the significance of state-level initiatives, using Oregon as a case study, and explores how these initiatives have influenced opioid consumption and prescription practices. The analysis considers the personal implications of the policy for healthcare professionals, particularly those working in surgical units where opioids are commonly used for post-operative pain management. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of integrating public health and healthcare strategies to effectively combat the opioid crisis and reduce the associated risks of misuse and addiction.

Running head: HEALTH CARE POLICY 1
Health Care Policy
Student’s Name
Institution

HEALTH CARE POLICY 2
Health Care Policy
The identified health policy for the discussion is opioid policy. This policy aims to reduce
the alarming trends of misuse, addiction and fatalities arising from the opioid epidemic. Through
this initiative, experts have been engaged to develop new solutions to help overcome the public
health problem that arises from opioid misuse and addiction (Blow, Gina & Chua, 2019). This
policy would affect me personally since I intend to work in the surgical unit where opioids are
often used to manage post-surgery pain. Patients with prescribed opioids often tend to overuse
such drugs even when the pain is relieved and are released from hospital.
This is a federal level policy although individual states such as Michigan have developed
subsidiary and expounded on this policy to cover more prescription drugs. The opioid epidemic
raised concerns after it was estimated that more than 90 Americans die from opioid overdose on
a daily basis. The federal government therefore, enacted the opioid policy to help control opioid
intake and to develop new therapeutic measures that can be used in place of opioids. Evidence
also indicates that opioid overdose is most prevalent among African Americans who rely on
opioids such as prescription medication, illicit fentanyl and heroin (Saioner et al., 2018).
Oregon has full embraced the policy by initiating strategic opioid initiatives where key
stakeholders are engaged whereas public health and healthcare systems and activities are
integrated. From this initiative, the state has realized decreased levels of opioid consumption in
relation to morphine equivalent doses. Such progress has motivated other states to identify
effective strategies to support the policy and which will decrease opioid prescription, misuse and
overconsumption (Katrina et al., 2019).

HEALTH CARE POLICY 3
References
Blow, F., Gina, C. H., & Chua, K. P. (2019). Opioid Policy. Retrieved from
https://ihpi.umich.edu/policy-priorities/opioid-policy
Katrina, H., Bui, L. T., Livingstone, C., Shield, L. M., & Van Otterloo, J. (2019). Integrating
Public Health and Health Care Strategies to Address the Opioid Epidemic. Journal of
Public Health Management and Practice, 25(3), 214-220. Retrieved from
https://journals.lww.com/jphmp/Fulltext/2019/05000/Integrating_Public_Health_and_He
alth_Care.2.aspx
Saioner, B., McGinty, E. E., Beletsky, R., Beyrer, C., Bottlcelli, M., & Sherman, S. G. (2018). A
Public Health Strategy for the Opioid Crisis. Public Health Reports, 133(1), 24-34.
Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30426871