The Other Side of the Opioid Crisis

It’s true that opioids can can cause health issues far more severe than what they were originally meant to treat. This has received a lot of attention in the news lately, and for good reason. Opioid misuse can cause premature death and can also lead to an increased likelihood of using other drugs, such as heroin. It’s easy to say that these things are bad because they are bad. Many lives have been needlessly lost or ruined because of addiction. However, there’s another side to the opioid crisis. Many people find that opioids can actually be helpful, especially when it comes toward hospice or palliative care.

 

Those that are familiar with palliative care have long used opioids to help relieve pain toward the end of life. For those that have advanced cancer, for example, an opioid prescription can be the most effective way to make end of life care comfortable. But the focus on opioids as a bad thing can make it a lot harder for the few people that would actually benefit from it to get the assistance and medical care that they need. When someone is in palliative care, the focus is on pain relief because the end of life is near. Many of the concerns of opioid abuse disappear in this instance–depending on the situation, of course.

 

In palliative care, opioids can actually be very helpful in some cases.

 

In India, the American opioid crisis has actually caused a good deal of economic problems. Opium poppies are one of the major crops of India, and the fact that opioids are being overprescribed has recently reduced the need for this crop–which is grown and processed legally in the country. The U.S. was the major buyer of the opioid drugs that were being produced here, but since this number has been recently reduced, many jobs have been impacted. Factories have fallen into disrepair and crops have been killed. What opioids are being produced have gone up dramatically in price. This has impacted the people who would actually benefit from the drug adversely because of rising costs, unfortunately.

 

Not all opioid producing countries are being hurt like India, but some are. The point is that each person is different and has a different set of needs. What is good for one person when it comes to senior care is not necessarily helpful or even healthy for another. Each individual has a different set of needs. Having a skilled team to help you choose the right type of assistance for your loved one’s specific needs is an important piece of the puzzle. For example, consulting with a doctor about care before you make a final decision will ensure that you start off in the place that can best address the present needs. Speaking with a caregiver service about what your expectations are during a free consultation can help to ensure that what you want and what you get are the same thing.

 

At Paradise In-Home Care, it’s important to us that everyone gets the individualized attention that they need. If we can be of help to your family, give us a call today.

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