The link is: https://www.theday.com/op-edguest-opinions/20180506/return-of-cocaine-complicates-heroin-crisis
Here are some passages:
Not all of these drug interactions are by accident. Drug combinations are intentionally used by some. Speedballing, a well-known practice among drug users, consists of cocaine mixed with opioids − used intravenously to get high.
Cocaine, a central nervous system stimulant, and opioids, a depressant, are co-administered to get an intense high and to counter the side effects of each other. This Russian roulette may be an exciting practice for some, but a misjudgment can easily lead to a fatal overdose.
A cocaine overdose can cause extremely high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks and death. There is only a limited window of time to intervene medically to save lives in these cases, and no known drug can reverse these overdoses.
A few years ago there was hope for a cocaine vaccine, but that project has not yet yielded any empirical results. Currently, only cognitive behavioral therapy and contingency management are effective treatments for cocaine use disorders.
While most of the media and healthcare policy attention is focused on the opioid epidemic, this emerging cocaine problem is going mostly unnoticed.
Ethnic minorities are especially vulnerable to opioid-laced cocaine deaths. Those who are not ready to quit drugs should practice harm-reduction strategies such as needle exchange programs, using the test dose of the drug before injecting and keeping Naloxone handy to avoid accidental overdose.
Do you guys have policy suggestions for this issue beyond access to Naloxone and needle exchange programs?
I think one easy to implement option save for cost, would be treatment. Face to face treatment can go a long way in helping people avoid the drug all together through providing a sense of community.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAs has been stated in class multiple times, I truly believe the best policy to improve the opioid crisis is decriminalization and a strong focus on help/rehabilitation for addicts. I also think that, especially in college culture, cocaine and prescription opioids are viewed as a less addictive and don’t hold the same connotations as heroin
DeleteI don't know of any large scale policies that would be able to solve this. However, in my opinion, increased education in schools about the dangers of these drugs is the best option
ReplyDeleteEducation on these drugs is key. I find it interesting how so many people are chasing a high and use multiple drugs to counteract the effects of the other. They need to understand all the risks when using such drugs.
DeleteDo you guys not think the education in schools at this point is enough? I remember learning about all of these drugs throughout my time in school and so did my peers .I don't think some of the action being taken in that regard is actually useful at this point .
DeleteYes, increased education about the impact of using these types of drugs in a dangerous recreational manner, is an important part of bringing awareness to this issue.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Charlie and Victoria-- education for prevention and cognitive therapy for rehabilitation. If somebody is using this intense combination of drugs, they need immediate attention, help, and guidance.
ReplyDelete