Opioid crisis: Placing blame or fixing the problem

Abstract

There is prevalent news media coverage about the opioid crisis in the United States. Overdose deaths are on the rise, but who's fault is it really? Perspective into the crisis is key if we as health care providers ever hope to change the current situation. Although overdose deaths are on the rise, opioid prescribing rates are decreasing. Considering a complex issue requires looking into to the lives of patients and their past experiences to truly identify those at risk for addiction, not just opioid addiction, but addiction as a whole. Nurse practitioners play a vital role in identifying those at greatest risk, making the identification early and assisting patients into treatment to help change the trajectory of their lives.

Communication, leadership and organizational support facilitate successful transition into practice for nurse practitioners in the emergency department

“…The opioid crisis is a multifaceted problem that requires a consortium approach, including education on prescription reduction, polypharmacy, and screening for substance abuse. Despite CDC guidelines and prescriber efforts to reduce opioid prescriptions up to 12% in 2018, opioid deaths are still on the rise (Snodgrass, 2019). Since 2006, the number of patients presenting to EDs with a psychiatric chief complaint has increased more than 50% with 1:8 ED visits involving a psychiatric emergency (Zeller, 2018).…”