I thought that this article was interesting. When talking about the victims of the Opioid Crisis, we have focused mainly on white families. But new studies show that Latinos are also hit very hard by the epidemic because of factors such as the lack of bilingual treatment programs and because there's a fear of being deported if one calls for help.
Here's the link to the article:
http://www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2018/05/03/latino-opioid-overdose-deaths
What do you all think? Should there be specific policies that help Latinos in particular? We tend to perceive them as the dealers, but it's interesting that many are in fact victims of the crisis.
I definitely think there should be more to help Latino victims of the Opioid Crisis. I’m not sure if there can be specific legislation passed to help Latino victims in particular, I personally feel giving Latino victims the proper resources and support to get help could go a long way
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think that in the US a second language needs to become more of a priority in schools. Which I think is happening. Communication is key and we need to be able to break language barriers to help each other.
DeleteWe live in a country with many different cultures, languages and places of origin, this is a facet of where we live. Hence, there should be bilingual treatment programs to not only meet latinos needs but others as well. The relationship between people and law enforcement needs to be rejuvenated to paint police officers as those who are there to help rather than fear bringers. How can this be done? I am not sure.
ReplyDeleteNot only for opioid crisis but also for many other aspects, minorities, such as Latinos, may be treated uneven. I agree with above arguments, and helps may not only limit for opioid crisis. Same for other minorities.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many people that are affected by the opioid epidemic and a number of factors that must be considered when devising a solution. Bilingual treatment centers is not something I had even considered. Like Tyler said, this country is a mixture of different people from very different walks of life. It is important that with any solution that is proposed, the experiences of everyone be properly accounted for because the crisis can truly affect anyone.
ReplyDeleteIt is a very good point that language barriers could act as a significant issue when attempting to get help for addiction.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone's comments. The US should begin working on omitting this language barrier in order to start helping the Latin communities affected by opioid addiction.
ReplyDeleteThe reach of the opioid epidemic knows no bounds. The bottom line is that these people who abuse these drugs need help, by whatever means necessary. Our country is progressing towards becoming more inclusive, and that change is a step in the right direction towards helping our country and its people become united in their causes, including addiction.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be beneficial to create places for those suffering from addiction that are bilingual, because it would allow those dealing with addiction to get the best help because they can actually communicate what their going through and explain their situation to those helping them. There also should be some protection in place for those who may be here illegally, because they won't seek help if they fear deportation.
ReplyDeleteGreat article. We’re still in a phase of figuring out what’s happening to a certain demographic and need to consider the circumstances of everyone affect. Making sure everyone has equal access to drug prevention and rehabilitation is key.
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