Addiction can be one of the worst trials one can go through. A person has little to no control over their actions and will even succumb at their own peril. The family of the addict and the society around him or her often suffers immensely, as well.
Dependency on illicit, dangerous drugs is common in the U.S. According to NBC Washington, in 2015, more than 52,000 people died of drug overdose in 2015 nationwide. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that two-thirds of these overdoses were from prescription opioids such as Vicodin and OxyContin or illegal drugs such as heroin. Overdosing has gone up 33 percent in the last five years. In addition, the CDC reported that in some states, the death toll has more than doubled.
In light of these staggering numbers, the state of Maryland is taking a unique approach to its growing opioid and heroin epidemic. Maryland Republican Governor Larry Hogan signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency to combat the crisis. The Baltimore Sun reported the governor announced $10 million in annual funding for the next five years to help support efforts to curb the addiction rates. NBC Washington reports these efforts include supporting prevention, recovery, and enforcement efforts.
In a video with House of Cards actor Michael Kelly, Hogan addressed the addiction problems of the state, saying, “Heroin and opioid addiction affects Marylanders of all ages and demographics, and in particular, our youth.”
Kelly warned addiction destroys families and lives, and urged parents to talk to their children about the issue. The video ended with Kelly saying, “unlike acting, life doesn’t give second chances.”
Watch the video below:
In January, the state created a command center to spur easier collaboration between state agencies. This will help state and local agencies save the lives of thousands of Marylanders. The Baltimore Sun reported 2,000 Marylanders died from heroin or opioid overdoses in 2016, which is double from the previous year.
To combat the opioid epidemic, Hogan announced three measures that he will support. First, doctors would only be able to prescribe up to seven days’ worth of opioid painkillers during a patient’s first visit. Second, anyone convicted of illegally selling opioids that result in the death of the user would be charged with a felony. Finally, a separate bill would authorize collecting and reviewing non-fatal overdose data to make it easier to fill prescriptions for naloxone, a drug that can counteract the effects of an opioid overdose.
While Governor Hogan’s proposals can be helpful in battling the opioid addiction crisis, they leave out a crucial component: self-control and knowledge of the danger of drugs and addiction. We can only hope parents, teachers, and mentors will take on the role of teaching this knowledge, and ideally, addiction rates will decline drastically, both in Maryland and nationwide.
