Opioids Role in America

The opioid epidemic took the U.S. news cycle by storm since it became a full-blown public health emergency in 2017. Starting in the late 90s, pharmaceutical companies and providers were issuing reassurance that an increase in prescriptions for opioids would not lead to a rise in addictions. Turns out, years later, there was an increase in opioid dependence across the country.

That led the Department of Health and Human Services to create a 5-Point Strategy to combat the opioid addiction crisis.

These strategies are:

Improving access to treatment and recovery services
Promoting the use of overdose-reversing drugs
Strengthening the understanding of the epidemic
Providing support for cutting edge research on pain and addiction
Advancing better practices for pain management

Opioid Use and Addiction Myths

It’s no surprise then that everyone is concerned about the opioid crisis. Whether they are families, communities, or legislators, it impacts us all.

Let’s take a look at the myths, many of which apply to any addiction, and what the data tells us is the best way to solve the problems.

"Why Even Use Drugs?"

People often struggle to understand drug use, compulsive behaviors, and addiction.

They wonder why someone might use a drug or engage in a behavior to the extent that it destroys their life.

Let's dive into that.

The Chemical Imbalance Myth

This is one of the most pervasive myths in behavioral health among both professionals and lay people, which is surprising given its total lack of support in any research.

The Addiction Gene

While many hoped for a simple answer where one or a couple genes contributed to addiction or other mental disorders, this has, unsurprisingly, turned out not to be the case. Genes, especially when we involve epigenetics, are not static. Gene expression changes over the course of an individual's life based on various environmental triggers.

The interplay of hundreds or thousands of genes work together in incredibly complex ways so that a single gene is never going to be responsible for something as complex as a human behavior. This short article written for the average person provides some additional insights.

Addiction & Behavioral Health Myths