Document Type
Portfolio
Publication Date
2020
Abstract
Opioid addiction is a significant health problem in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Opioid addiction can result in death from overdoses, economic hardship including high costs for treatment, decreased work productivity, and legal involvement (NIDA, n.d.). Mental health issues including opioid addiction are widespread and therefore difficult and costly to help all those afflicted. It has been shown that in the United States fifty percent of people will have at least one diagnosable mental health issue in their lifetime. In addition, 6 out of 10 of these will be moderate to severe (Conyne, Horne, & Raczynski, 2013). Therefore, prevention is a crucial step in reducing the problem This portfolio will be used to present current data regarding opioid use and a prevention plan for reducing the onset of opioid addiction. Reduction in the incidence of opioid addiction and overdose can occur through advocacy and effective prevention programs. Through prevention, positive social change can occur to bring about less addiction, improved mental health, increased productivity, and decreased economic burden.
