Opioid overdose is an increasing public health problem that kills more people per year than traffic accidents. Many communities have had enough, and have created many "just say no" campaigns to discourage opioid use. There is a chance that these campaigns may discourage use from those who have never used opioids; however, it is not likely to affect someone that already has a substance use disorder or has underlying psychiatric disorders.
Fact: Over 60% of people who meet clinical criteria for a substance use disorder have an underlying comorbid mental health disorder such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or PTSD, etc.
Thus, it is extremely important that campaigns do not stigmatize or marginalize drug users. Marginalization can make a user feel shame, guilt, and self-hatred. This can perpetuate pre-existing mental health issues and actually motivate one to use drugs even more.
Awareness efforts should focus on opioid use as a major public health problem and psychiatric disorder, not simply blacklist and punish those that use opioids. People that use opioids need friends, love, support just like any other human and this social support could assist in motivating someone to get proper treatment.
Awareness efforts are always very well intentioned. Everyone, including myself, is tired of seeing friends die from drug overdoses. But in order to help, we have to think critically and compassionately about the complexities of addiction -- and not act impulsively. Opioid overdose is a sensitive topic, and we need to treat it as such. Let's support our friends whether or not they use drugs. It's sometimes difficult to do, but it's best to show support with compassion understanding, not by punishment.
Fact: over 50% of all fatal opioid overdose cases occur in conjunction with alcohol or nervous system depressants like benzodiazepine. If you use opioids, never mix these drugs. It can cause fatal respiratory suppression.
Fact: Naloxone saves lives. If you or someone know uses opioids, have a naloxone kit on standby. In many states, Naloxone is free at pharmacies and a pharmacist can train you how to administer it.
More information on Naloxone here.
