For this week’s blog post, I will be discussing Stanfords lesson of prescription drugs and opioids, as well as the use of fentanyl. Opioids have been around for a very long time, as early as 3400 BC. Many cultures would use the plant as a pain reliever. Opioids are a class of drugs that includes prohibited substances like heroin as well as prescription medications that are legal and prescribed, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine. They lessen the experience of pain by attaching to opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the body. Although they are frequently prescribed to treat both acute and chronic pain, opioids come with a risk of addiction, dependence, and overdose. Opioids can have benefits such as pain relief, and sedation which can lead to euphoric sensations in your body.
Another common theme among opioid use is overdosing. Overdosing with any type of opioid an be harmful or even fatal. The phrase “opioid epidemic” refers to the high rise in opioid abuse, addiction, and overdose deaths that has occurred in many countries, especially the United States. The overprescription of opioids for pain relief, the availability of illegal opioids like heroin and fentanyl, and the lack of access to quality treatment for opioid use disorder are some of the factors fueling this epidemic.
To reduce the harm that opioids can bring into our lives, it is important that we become knowledgeable about how to treat and possibly eliminate the threat of addiction. The best way to reduce the risk of an overdose is to stay away from opioids unless they’re prescribed by a doctor. However, if you are in a situation where you or a loved one is overdosing, it is important to have a narcan which can reduce the likely hood of you dying from opioids.
Overall, this lesson was both informative and a pleasure to learn from. I think that the slides were really well written, and described in detail the use of opioids what they do, and the treatment for possible addiction/overdose. I think the slides definitely could have used more information on fentanyl, as the lesson seemed to be lacking details on the fentanyl problem, which is huge in our country today.
References
https://med.stanford.edu/halpern-felsher-reach-lab/preventions-interventions/Safety-First/safety-first-lesson-9.html
Hello Ryan,
Your post really resonated with me. It’s such an important topic, and you addressed it with a lot of heart and insight. I appreciate how you described the slides in much detail and mentioned the pros/cons of opioids. I agree that it’s critical that we educate ourselves on the treatment of opioid addiction and how to potentially eradicate its threat in order to lessen the harm that these drugs can bring into our lives. Avoiding opioids unless recommended by a physician is the best approach to lower the risk of an overdose. You also had a small mention of narcan which is very resourceful when dealing with drug overdose. It definitely is important for us as future educators to create a warm and supportive classroom environment for our students, and your dedication to that is admirable. Overall, your blog post was incredibly impactful and thought provoking. Keep up the great work!