Blog 2 Concerns of Addiction Socio-Cultural Perception of Addiction and Population Health

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How has the Opioid epidemic impacted families? 

The opioid epidemic has had a detrimental impact on families and communities. According to CDC (2025), during the year 2023, roughly 105,000 individuals have lost their lives due to drug overdose (CDC, 2025). In addition, 80,000 deaths related to drug overdose involved opioids (CDC, 2025). 

The first wave of the opioid epidemic began in the 1990’s, overdose deaths were related to prescription opioids such as morphine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone (CDC, 2025). The second wave of the opioid epidemic exhibited increased use and dependence of heroin, a recreational opioid [derived from morphine] during the 2000’s (Laing & Donnelly, 2024, p.7). The third wave of the opioid epidemic emerged in 2013, with significant increases in overdoses death associated with synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and fentanyl analogs [synthetic opioid related to fentanyl but appear more potent and rapid acting] (CDC, 2025).


Picture retrieved from: https://weillcornell.org/news/understanding-the-science-of-addiction


The opioid epidemic produced fear, emotions of dissociation, post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], anxiety, intrusive thoughts, emotional dysregulation, cognitive deficits, and decreased quality of life in families and communities (Nicholson et al., 2024, p.7-8). Individuals with substance use disorders may engage in unsafe risky behaviors such as manipulation, lying and stealing for the purpose of seeking illicit opioid substance (Khedr et al., 2023). In addition, individuals with substance use disorders are at increased risk of developing mental health disorders such as anxiety, major depressive disorders, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia (Dugosh & Cacciola, 2025). 

Families may conceal loved ones’ behavior related to substance use disorders, experience shame, frustration, stigma, and fear related to losing loved ones’ to opioid addiction (Khedr et al., 2023). This increases the probability of health disparities such as distrust, morbidities/mortalities, financial insecurity, lack of social support, treatment nonadherence, discrimination, stigma, and increase probability of substance use, (Koroma et al., 2025, p. 2-3).




Picture retrieved from: https://woxsen.edu.in/blog/substance-abuse-prevention-and-support/

Methods to enhance care for individuals and their families is to establish in-service training to recognize mental health concerns such as substance use disorders, anxiety, and withdrawal symptoms, provide accessible resources such as affordable mental health services, develop peer support groups, and provide safe, therapeutic services to enhance empathy and rapport between individual and provider (Nicholson et al., 2024, p.15).



Picture retrieved: https://learn.hms.harvard.edu/programs/collaborative-co-teaching




References:

Courtwright, D., & Adams, J. M. (2020). The Habit: Opioid Addiction in America. Retrieved from: https://backstoryradio.org/shows/the-habit/

CDC (2025). Understanding the Opioid Overdose Epidemic. U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/about/understanding-the-opioid-overdose-epidemic.html

Dugosh, K. L., & Cacciola, J. S. (2025). Substance use disorders: Clinical assessment. UpToDate. Retrieved from: https://www-uptodate-com.husson.idm.oclc.org/contents/substance-use-disorders-clinical-assessment

Khedr MA, El-Ashry AM, Ali EA, Eweida RS (2023). Relationship between craving to drugs, emotional manipulation and interoceptive awareness for social acceptance: the addictive perspective. BMC Nurs. (1):376. doi: 10.1186/s12912-023-01556-7. PMID: 37817144; PMCID: PMC10566147

Koroma, M. I., Inungu, J. N., Adu-Serwaah, M., Sultana, S., Younis, M. Z., & Iheduru-Anderson, K. (2025). Disparities in adult mental health service utilization in the United States: A cross-sectional study. Electronic Journal of General Medicine, 22(5), 1–13. https://doi-org.husson.idm.oclc.org/10.29333/ejgm/16747

Laing, R., & Donnelly, C. A. (2024). Evolution of an epidemic: Understanding the opioid epidemic in the United States and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on opioid-related mortality. PLoS ONE, 19(7), 1–26. https://doi-org.husson.idm.oclc.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0306395

Nicholson, T. P., Blazer, E. C., Hymes, A. S., & Ginley, M. K. (2024). A Qualitative Investigation into the Trauma Exhibited by First Responders Impacted by the Opioid Epidemic. International Journal of Mental Health & Addiction, 22(4), 2391–2412. https://doi-org.husson.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s11469-022-00993-w







Comments

  1. Mariah RNOctober 4, 2025 at 10:16 AM

    Nour, great blog! It almost seems unreal when you read the statistics related to addiction. It is a widespread problem throughout the country. You mention multiple times the family, and not just an individual. As providers this is very important to remember. It is heartbreaking when I read stories in the news of children who suffer the consequences from their parents’ addiction. As astounding as it is, predictions tell us of cases in which child protective services are involved, two-thirds are likely related to parental substance abuse (Dir et al., 2025). From a social determinant of health (SDoH) standpoint, there is so much to investigate and so much room for improvement. The children who are the unfortunate victims in these cases involving parental substance abuse experience a higher likelihood of entering foster care, have lengthened stays in foster care, higher rates of repeat abuse, the parents are more likely to not seek treatment for substance abuse, and the parents are more likely to lose their rights (Dir et al., 2025).
    Your section on families and the struggles they face made me think about the children living within these homes. If we look at all areas of SDoH, the children in these homes face such adversity. When I think of the stereotype of a substance abuser, from a SDoH standpoint an creates an image of a person who comes from low socioeconomic status, low literacy/education, poor neighborhoods with lack of fresh produce, no focus on preventative care, negative social networks, no participation or improvement from the government, and a culture in which this cycle repeats. Essentially facing every potential challenge in life without the skills to manage. Although that is a stereotype, you can certainly see when driving through areas such as I described, there usually are high rates of substance abuse. Although, hope is not lost. With early intervention children are much less likely to follow in their parents’ footsteps of addiction (Volkow & Blanco, 2023).
    What do you think of changing the focus on addiction to prevention of addiction, starting by taking the initiative to change healthcare and truly educate people at every appointment about the risks of addiction? Do you think we should focus more on treating active addiction? Do you think becoming a provider gives more opportunity to make a difference when managing addiction?

    References:
    Dir, A., Batch, B.L., & Aalsma, M.C. (2025). Understanding parents’ experience navigating substance use treatment and the child welfare system. Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, 172(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.josat.2025.209672

    Volkow, N.D., & Blanco, C. (2023). Substance use disorders: A comprehensive update of classification, epidemiology, neurobiology, clinical aspects, treatment and prevention. World Psychiatry, 22(2), 203-229. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21073

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nour Myers RNOctober 11, 2025 at 12:44 PM

    Hi Mariah,
    Thank you for your response. Reading the 'Least of Us' by Sam Quinones has enlightened me on the opioid epidemic. To answer your questions, as healthcare providers we must screen everyone during their physical appointments specifically social determinants [adolescents, geriatrics, mothers, etc.] and refer individuals to seek social services. We must healthcare gaps and establish trust again between patients-providers. In addition, we must focus more on active addiction before it transitions to an unsafe situation such as mental health disorders [psychosis, anxiety, depression, and dissociation] and decreased quality of life. This will tremendously support individuals experiencing unsafe home environments, homelessness, and distrust.

    ReplyDelete

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