Opioid Crisis: No Easy Fix to Its Social and Economic Determinants

American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 108, No. 2, pp. 182 - 186 (2018)

Northeastern University School of Law Research Paper No. 312-2018

Posted: 31 Jan 2018

See all articles by Nabarun Dasgupta

Nabarun Dasgupta

University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill

Leo Beletsky

Northeastern University - School of Law; Northeastern University - Bouvé College of Health Sciences; Division of Infectious Disease and Global Public Health, UCSD School of Medicine

Daniel Ciccarone

University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) - Department of Family and Community Medicine

Date Written: 2018

Abstract

The accepted wisdom about the US overdose crisis singles out prescribing as the causative vector. Although drug supply is a key factor, we posit that the crisis is fundamentally fueled by economic and social upheaval, its etiology closely linked to the role of opioids as a refuge from physical and psychological trauma, concentrated disadvantage, isolation, and hopelessness.

Overreliance on opioid medications is emblematic of a health care system that incentivizes quick, simplistic answers to complex physical and mental health needs. In an analogous way, simplistic measures to cut access to opioids offer illusory solutions to this multidimensional societal challenge.

We trace the crisis’ trajectory through the intertwined use of opioid analgesics, heroin, and fentanyl analogs, and we urge engaging the structural determinants lens to address this formidable public health emergency. A broad focus on suffering should guide both patient- and community-level interventions.

Keywords: Opioids

Suggested Citation

Dasgupta, Nabarun and Beletsky, Leo and Ciccarone, Daniel, Opioid Crisis: No Easy Fix to Its Social and Economic Determinants (2018). American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 108, No. 2, pp. 182 - 186 (2018), Northeastern University School of Law Research Paper No. 312-2018, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3113500

Nabarun Dasgupta (Contact Author)

University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill ( email )

102 Ridge Road
Chapel Hill, NC NC 27514
United States

Leo Beletsky

Northeastern University - School of Law; Northeastern University - Bouvé College of Health Sciences ( email )

416 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
United States
617-373-5540 (Phone)

Division of Infectious Disease and Global Public Health, UCSD School of Medicine ( email )

9500 Gilman Drive
MC 0507
La Jolla, CA 92093
United States

Daniel Ciccarone

University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) - Department of Family and Community Medicine ( email )

San Francisco, CA 94143
United States

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