The Silent Victims of Opioid Abuse
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Opioid misuse's repercussions impact society in various aspects. Along with the individual, their families and friends are also affected by the situation to some degree or another. Statistics reveal that children and youth living in a family where at least one member suffers from opioid use disorder are more likely to experience child maltreatment and neglect. It also increases their risk of being placed in foster care.??
Children and youth are not the only ones affected but also those yet to be born. According to a study published in 2021, "the number of women with opioid-related diagnoses at delivery increased by 131% from 2010 to 2017." Also, about 7% of women reported using prescription opioid painkillers during pregnancy. The above data implies that every 19 minutes, a baby is born and diagnosed with Neonatal Addiction Syndrome (NAS) in the United States, which translates to nearly 80 newborns diagnosed every day.?
On the other hand, in the face of this problem, the federal and several state governments have had to allocate funds to help their citizens overcome the substance use disorder and thus curb the opioid crisis. The U.S. government conducts most of its efforts to combat the opioid crisis through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. One of SAMHSA's main objectives is to reduce the impact of substance abuse on America's communities.
The federal government covers a large part of the expenses generated by this crisis by creating programs and grants to help citizen victims. The "U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is focusing its efforts on treatment, spreading awareness of the epidemic, providing support through research, and advancing better practices for pain management." In the fiscal year 2019, $7.6 billion (about $23 per person in the US) in federal funds were reportedly allocated to the opioid crisis. Governmental intervention to combat the opioid crisis and prevent its future spread represents an excessive cost to the public fund. The opioid crisis should not be seen as a problem experienced by some individuals but as a public health crisis that directly or collaterally affects millions across the U.S.?
If you, a friend, family member, or another person close to you needs help for a substance use disorder, talk to your doctor, or call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP or go to SAMHSA's Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locatorexternal icon.?
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About Agile:
Agile has been in service to various U.S.-based law firms since our inception in 2019. We've been most heavily involved in document review in the Relativity platform, as well as plaintiff fact sheets and intake on platforms such as CaseLocker and TimeMatters. During these past years, we've built up a portfolio of extensively trained full-time eDiscovery specialists, all touting a Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school.?
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