The Opioid Crisis and How You Can Help


Your DGB for today is to pick one or all of our suggested ways to help end the American opioid epidemic.

It’s no secret that the United States has an opioid addiction problem, and even more troubling is that as the street cost of prescription pills rises, those addicted to opioids are turning to even more dangerous drugs like heroin and fentanyl because they’re cheaper. Over 90 people are killed by an opioid overdose every day, and not much is being done about it.

One of the things you can do to help end the opioid epidemic is to learn about it. Understanding that people addicted to opioids aren’t just doing it to party is a huge step towards getting them better resources for addiction. You can find more info about the opioid crisis and how it happened here: Another thing you can do to help is to talk to your friends, family, and children about the opioid epidemic. Explain to the young people in your life that they may never know what is in pills they take, and one attempt at having fun can leave them as a life-long addict or worse.

Another major step in ending the opioid crisis is supporting bills and encouraging your representatives to fund more addiction and crisis centers. Experts say the crisis will never end until it is as easy for someone addicted to opioids to get treatment as it is for them to get a hit. Contact your reps and ask what they are doing to end this crisis. Let them know you are concerned and want something to be done. Lastly, you can get naloxone, the life saving medication that can reverse an overdose. This website instructs you how to use it, where you can find it, and how to donate to their efforts. Naloxone is not a drug someone can use to get high, but it can save a life. It’s useful to have on hand if you know anyone addicted to opioids, or if you live in an area with a high rate of addiction. You never know whose life you might save by having some handy.

Right now it appears it’s on us to end this crisis. Trump says he is going to help, but until he puts forth actual legislation, we need to do everything we can to save lives.