Posted: September 4th, 2023

Health Policy Brief: Addressing the Opioid Epidemic in the United States

Health Policy Brief Part I Assignment Instructions:
This is the first out of four Health Policy Brief assignments that will be developed throughout the Health Policy, Legislation, Economics, and Ethics course. The purpose of this assignment is to draft a health policy brief for stakeholders and community members. Particularly, you will identify a relevant health-related issue impacting populations and/or communities in the United States that has legislative and policy implications at the state and/or national level. The assignment is not about identifying a policy or procedure at your place of employment, but rather identifying a systematic healthcare concern that has legislative and policy implications at least at the state level. Sample issues may be identified in your state legislative website, board of nursing website, public health department website, and/or national association website. In addition, your textbook addresses systematic issues such as smoking during pregnancy, medical cannabis use, substance use disorders among health care providers, and patient safety outcomes, to name a few. Prior to beginning to work on this project, please view the 18:36 minute video developed by the Women’s and Children’s Health Policy Center titled, The Art and Craft of Policy Briefs: Translating Science and Engaging Stakeholders, which will provide you with an understanding on the development of a policy brief. The YouTube presentation can be found in the following weblink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1GpcAoBvnc

Submission Parameters:

For the first part of this three-paper assignment, please use the following guidelines and criteria. Also, please refer to the rubric for point allocation and assignment expectations. The expected length of the paper is approximately 5-6 pages, which does not include the cover page and reference page(s).

Introduction (including purpose statement)
Identify and describe a specific and relevant healthcare issue
Please identify an issue that has state and/or national policy and/or legislative implications
Describe the healthcare issue with the support of research studies, bills that have been introduced to the legislature, national association position statements, and reliable electronic health-related sources (i.e. Institute of Medicine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Include information on the demographic impacted by the issue, adverse health/clinical outcomes, and prevalence.
Identify potential stakeholders and/or constituents who may support your health policy brief. For example, you may address the individuals, communities, and/or populations who may be impacted by the issue.
Identify at least one specific piece of legislation (bill) that is pending on your healthcare issue. Also, please identify if this piece of legislation is sponsored by the state or at the national level. Many times, bills are supported by national organizations such as the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. If your state legislature is not proposing a bill on your specific topic, you may identify a bill from another state for this assignment. Make sure that you provide in-text citations and reference the document.
Draft a plan for your Health Policy Brief, which may capitalize from an existing health campaign and/or proposed bill. Include at least two objectives that you hope to achieve. The plan should seek to create a new policy or change an existing policy at the state and/or national level. The plan should be described in no more than 2 paragraphs.
Conclusion
MUST BE IN APA 7 format, with reference page.

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Health Policy Brief: Addressing the Opioid Epidemic in the United States

Introduction:
The purpose of this health policy brief is to address the opioid epidemic, a significant healthcare issue impacting populations and communities in the United States. This issue has profound legislative and policy implications at both the state and national levels. The opioid epidemic has resulted in devastating consequences, including high rates of addiction, overdose-related deaths, and adverse health outcomes. This policy brief aims to outline the issue, provide supporting evidence, identify stakeholders, present pending legislation, and propose a plan to combat the opioid epidemic effectively.

Healthcare Issue Description:
The opioid epidemic is a complex public health crisis characterized by the misuse and abuse of prescription opioids and illicit drugs such as heroin and synthetic opioids. The epidemic has significantly impacted individuals across various demographics, including age, gender, race, and socioeconomic status. According to research studies, the opioid epidemic has led to a surge in addiction rates, increased incidence of overdose-related deaths, and a range of negative health outcomes, including infectious diseases and neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Stakeholders and Constituents:
The stakeholders and constituents relevant to addressing the opioid epidemic include healthcare professionals, policymakers, law enforcement agencies, public health departments, addiction treatment providers, pharmaceutical companies, community organizations, patients and their families, and advocacy groups. These groups play crucial roles in developing and implementing effective policies and interventions to mitigate the impact of the opioid crisis on individuals and communities.

Pending Legislation:
One specific piece of legislation that is pending and directly addresses the opioid epidemic is the Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency (CARE) Act. This legislation is currently sponsored at the national level by a coalition of senators and representatives. The CARE Act aims to allocate significant funding towards prevention, treatment, and recovery support services for individuals affected by opioid use disorders. It also seeks to enhance prescription drug monitoring programs, improve access to naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal medication), and promote evidence-based practices in pain management.

Plan for Health Policy Brief:
The plan for this health policy brief involves leveraging the existing CARE Act as a foundation to create comprehensive policy changes at both the state and national levels. The objectives of this plan are as follows:

Increase Access to Evidence-Based Treatment: Advocate for the implementation and expansion of evidence-based treatment programs for opioid use disorders, including medication-assisted treatment, counseling services, and harm reduction strategies. This objective aims to ensure that individuals struggling with addiction have access to appropriate care and support.

Enhance Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs): Support the strengthening of PDMPs to improve surveillance and monitoring of opioid prescriptions. This objective focuses on implementing measures that prevent overprescribing, identify high-risk patients, and facilitate early intervention and referral to treatment.

Conclusion:
Addressing the opioid epidemic requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses policy changes, public awareness campaigns, and increased access to evidence-based treatment. By supporting the CARE Act and advocating for its comprehensive implementation, policymakers can take significant strides in combatting the opioid epidemic and improving the health outcomes of individuals and communities affected by this crisis.

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