Essay Example: Evidence on Intervention Effectiveness

Evidence concerning the management of the opioid crisis reflects on the long-term and coordinated vigilant efforts targeting to ameliorate the harmful effects of the crisis (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2017). Randomized controlled trials determine the effectiveness of the various policies used. Evidence shows that strategies that are less restrictive on the prescription of opioids to make them available are effective. In preventing deaths resulting from an opioid overdose, these policies aim to reduce harm among patients of opioid use disorders by encouraging the exchange of syringes, and safe injections and educating patients on the effects of opioid use.

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Logic Model

The continued rise in death resulting from opioid overdose is alarming and calls for the adoption of comprehensive policies to help mitigate the opioid crisis in the United States. A compelling logic model is required to assist in approaching this problem effectively. The approaches used must incorporate contributions from the field of epidemiology, pharmacology, neuroscience, prevention, and treatment interventions. Also, these approaches need to be integrated into legal, education, social, political, and healthcare systems. The factors that need to be highlighted in the model include the themes of social determinants of health, patient-centered interventions, linking science with medical practice, and use of data to come up with systems that are relevant to the interventions used (Blanco et al., 2020).

Evidence-Based Interventions

The first approach is to increase the use of evidence-based opioid prescription practices. The number of opioid prescriptions remains high despite the increased concern about the opioid use disorder. Relying on prescription guidelines can help deal with the problem by improving patient safety and reduce overdose and misuse of opioids. Another intervention is increasing access to medical services. Treatment bases on medication assistance offer victims a comprehensive way of care, combining medication with behavioral and counselling approaches. The third approach is increasing access to medicines that reverse overdose to prevent adverse effects (Cdc.gov, 2017). The fourth approach is harm reduction through syringe exchanges and promotion of safe injection (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2017).

Community Agencies

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Department of Health of New York State are engaged in implementing policy programs to fight against opioid crisis (Health.ny.gov, 2018; NIH, 2018). The agencies are involved in coordinating information sharing with the affected neighborhoods. They also train healthcare providers to equip them with the skills they need in managing pain, opioid addiction, and treatment interventions. They also engage in drug monitoring strategies and provide resources to the communities to enhance capacity.

Best Solution for Affected Youths

The best solution to address this challenge among youths is by combining all the policies available. Policies targeting to fight against the use of drugs work differently on people. The strategy that proves to be effective on a group of patients should then be tried on others. A policy that restricts the prescription opioids may affect adherence to interventions. Strategies that are based on medication assistance and counselling and behavioral approaches can be beneficial. These policies encourage the practice of patient education and increase the effectiveness in adherence (Cdc.gov, 2017). The strategy also promotes harm reduction practices.

Defining Success

The main aim of the intervention is to prevent deaths resulting from an opioid overdose. The adverse effects of opioid use cause these deaths. Death occurs when the patients do not access the healthcare services they need. The success of the program will, therefore, be indicated by factors like increased utilization of healthcare services, an improvement from the adverse effects, reduced mortality, reduced use of opioids, and success in harm reduction (Thakur et al., 2019). These indicators show improved health status among patients with opioid use disorder.

References

Blanco, C., Wiley, T. R., Lloyd, J. J., Lopez, M. F., & Volkow, N. D. (2020). America’s opioid crisis: the need for an integrated public health approach. Translational Psychiatry, 10(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-020-0847-1Cdc.gov. (2017). PREVENTING OPIOID OVERDOSES IN RURAL AMERICA. RURAL HEALTH POLICY BRIEF. Cdc.gov. Retrieved 17 July 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/ruralhealth/drug-overdose/pdf/Policy-Brief_Opioiod-Overdoses-H.pdf.

Health.ny.gov. (2018). Addressing the Opioid Epidemic in New York State. Health.ny.gov. Retrieved 17 July 2020, from https://www.health.ny.gov/community/opioid_epidemic/.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2017). Pain management and the opioid epidemic: balancing societal and individual benefits and risks of prescription opioid use. National Academies Press. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK458653/

National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2018). National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). National Institutes of Health (NIH). Retrieved 17 July 2020, from https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-almanac/national-institute-drug-abuse-nida.

Thakur, T., Frey, M., & Chewning, B. (2019). Pharmacist services in the opioid crisis: current practices and scope in the United States. Pharmacy, 7(2), 60. https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/7/2/60/pdf