Antidote Naloxone

here has been an ever present threat within the United States that continues to grow at an alarming rate by the day; that threat is substance addiction. Nearly 38,000 deaths were linked to overdoses in 2009; that exceeds the total number of traffic violations for that year (“U.S Heroin Crisis”). Citizens and politicians continue to name it the number one “growing public health crisis” (“U.S Heroin Crisis”), but how do these users get addicted and what is the U.S doing to stop this so called “growing threat”? The U.S has recently deployed the overdose antidote Naloxone into the U.S, which has been a large area of debate between users and nonusers. This drug is a good way to get addicts on the road to recovery and a great way to train the average
Since 2001, Narcan has saved more than 10,000 lives and continues to do so to this day (“U.S Heroin Crisis”). As time goes on, the government adds funds to an ever growing war against drugs and enacts more laws against drug abuse; that does nothing to stop the numbers from growing. The government focuses more on the punishment a user should get rather than the help they should seek after an overdose. Many argue that if an addict is found overdosed they should be punished for drug possession or left for dead. What good would any of that do but add the emotional and financial cost of that on their families? Addiction is considered a chronic condition by many around the country and, in the end, these addicts do not sit around saying, “I want to be addicted to this, and ruin my life for the sake of a high”. If these addicts are found overdosed they should not have to worry about being punished horribly for something that they hate as much as a nonuser. These people should worry about their treatment, which is why many lawmakers are considering good samaritan laws. These laws protect overdose victims from punishment and provides them with medical help for their addiction. Another good turn the government has taken is the addition of specialized drug courts where those with drug offenses are brought to get help for their problem. This
Many believe that Naloxone is ‘the first step toward recovery” (Join Together Staff), but how can addiction be prevented? Out of the 1.9 million addicts in the U.S, only 517,000 were heroin addicts (“Opioid Abuse” 10). Nearly all heroin addicts come from painkillers after a while which increases crime rates and overdose related deaths. All of these overdoses could have been stopped if the root of the problem is pulled, which goes back to painkiller abuse. At this time, the government is tightening its hold on painkillers by enacting new laws and legislation that will stop illegal distribution, improve education on addiction, and safely helping addicts. Many argue that this would be too much money for the government to spend on the “low-lives” of society and that this money should go somewhere more productive. This government action is the best way to go because addicts can man up and go for help than continue to kill themselves. All of this expense will pay off in the end when it save the life of a neighbor, friend, coworker, or even a family