Question 1
Opioid addiction is a physical and psychological dependency on opioids, a substance based on specific pain medications and certain illicit drugs such as heroin. Opioids interfere with the nervous system by giving pleasurable feelings and pain relief. Over 2.5 million of Americans suffer from opioid disorder, with reported deaths of 28000 in 2014 (Kertesz & Gordon, 2019). Although health professionals legally prescribe some opioids, individuals mainly misuse illegal opioids such as heroin in the US. One way that opioid affects the US is that more people are misusing them. When prescribed by a health professional, opioid drugs have a high compulsive urge to use more, even when the body no longer requires them. Opioid addiction interferes with an individual’s career and personal life.
Opioids addiction damages the chemistry of the brain and leads to drug tolerance. This means that people addicted to opioids will use more of them to achieve the same effect. Many Individuals are, therefore, majorly dependent on opioids in the US. Lastly, opioid is a source of deaths in the US. Opioid addiction leads to life-threatening health problems such as slow or stopped breathing, unconsciousness, and death if not attended to.