In the United States, some of the most common substances for drug abuse and addiction are opioids. In fact, opioid abuse is so common in the U.S. that the federal government determined the outbreak to be a national epidemic. To combat this epidemic and encourage more people to find opiate addiction treatment, two new anti opioid campaigns were launched last week.
Why Are the Campaigns Necessary?
Two new anti-opioid campaigns were launched, in an attempt to educate parents and warn physicians about the risks associated with painkillers. A report done by the National Safety Council shows that 99 percent of doctors are prescribing painkillers for longer than the three-day guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC’s guidelines state that three days worth of opioids “often will be sufficient” for acute pain and that a seven-day supply “will rarely be needed.”
Donald Teater, MD, the medical advisor for the NSC, states “Doctors are well-intentioned and want to help their patients, but these findings are further proof that we need more education and training if we want to treat pain most effectively.”
The Anti Opioid Campaigns
The advertising campaign titled “You Decide Before They Prescribe” was launched this week and was created by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and encourages parents to tell doctors to prescribe less potent alternative pain medications instead of opioid painkillers. It’s common for parents to leave leftover painkillers in medicine cabinets when they’re done using them, leaving them accessible to their children. The campaign hopes that they can educate parents to make smarter decisions and prevent prescription drug addiction.
This campaign also acknowledges that common link between painkillers and heroin use. It’s common for a person to start using prescription painkillers and then move onto heroin once their supply runs out. The organization hopes these ads can spur a nationwide response and make people recognize the chain reaction that can happen with addiction.
Morningside Recovery Treats Opioid Addiction
Morningside Recovery is a leader in the fields of addiction and dual diagnosis treatment, offering various treatment services to patients struggling with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. We understand the difficulties Americans face during the opioid epidemic, and we want to help.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, help is just a phone call away. Call us anytime at 855-631-2135. Our treatment specialists will assist you in finding the right treatment option for you. A healthy and sober life is waiting for you, you just have to make the call.