| Description |
The opioid epidemic has gained widespread attention over the past decade as overdose and addiction rates soar across the country. Opioid abuse has been a problem for the United States dating back to the Civil War. With the pain revolution and aggressive marketing tactics by prescription drug manufacturers in the 1990's, opioid addiction grew to an unprecedented size. Today, addiction exists in all corners of the U.S., but especially plagues mid-size cities such as Salt Lake City. In Utah, an average of six individuals die every week due to opioid overdoses and the state has the seventh highest drug overdose rate in the nation. Due to unique cultural factors, geographic location, and demand of prescription drugs, Utah presents the perfect environment to foster addiction to prescription pain killers. Over the years, many laws have been put into place on both federal and state Governmental levels to attempt to curb access to opioids and improve access to treatment. In 2017, Salt Lake City was chosen to be a pilot city for the Drug Enforcement Administration 360 plan (DEA 360). This plan adopts a model of aggressive law enforcement paired with increased funding for addiction treatment in hopes to lower overdose rates across the state. In addition to the implementation of the DEA 360 plan, other areas of support exist across the state to make an impact on the opioid epidemic. The three branches of support in Utah include Intermountain Healthcare, state law enforcement, and nonprofit treatment facilities. These branches affect the state on a large scale and show the most potential of making an impact on the culture of the state and rates of opioid addiction. |
