Chances are if you are reading this article, you are concerned about the growing opiate epidemic in this country as well as the great state of Ohio and the road governor John Kasich has prepared it for. We’re speaking of course of the enormous outbreak of chemically dependent people appearing left and right over the course of the last 30 years. Really, addiction and alcoholism have been around longer than that, but over the last few decades, things have gotten particularly dangerous for those of us inflicted with this incurable disease. In a world with increasing stress and problems being delivered to your doorstep, the want for relief is understandable, but not in the way individuals are looking for and finding it. Death shouldn’t be in the same equation as “feeling good.”
Addicts and alcoholics are passing away at an extreme rate from this ever growing pandemonium and people are becoming upset. It’s easy to point the finger and blame somebody else when unexpected tragedy hits. Unfortunately, most people don’t consider or recognize the urgency with this growing problem until it’s affected them or somebody close to them in their life. The chemicals and substances aren’t going anywhere, clearly. So the question that arises is asking ourselves how can we be proactive and what are the actual possibilities we have while battling this chaos and tyranny that addiction entangles into our lives?
While Ohio governor John Kasich stands firmly by his proposals, the majority of the state revolts as people continue to drop like flies. Kasich firmly states that “Ohio is doing more than any state in the country” in regards to the matter. His proposal to help fight this uphill battle stays intact with the state’s $1 billion budget on drug and alcohol abuse treatment/help. His plan and proposals draw money from the taxpayers to help fund for Medicaid services which has dramatically helped already in itself. The expansion of this funding and the budget proposed will help to ensure preventative measures such as drug court, a state drug-prescriber registry, medication assistance services, and treatment in youth and adult prisons will all stay on the table in this fight strategy.
Yet with everything already in play, critics lash out at Kasich and state his plan is not enough to fight this war on drug addiction. It is and it isn’t. It’s understandable that people are upset with defensive actions being taken and still seeing loved ones pass away from the epidemic. Unfortunately, addiction and alcoholism are catalysts for death and misery. The alcoholic thinking that lies in the brain of the chemically dependent is cunning, baffling, and powerful as they say. Yes, more can be done to take precaution going into the future, but at the same time, what most need to realize is that addiction and alcoholism will not be beaten necessarily.
If the opioids all disappeared off the streets tomorrow, (we’ll continue to pray so), but if they all disappeared- the next chemical or substance would present itself and we’d be looking at new epidemics. In Ohio, heroin is one of the leading narcotics on the street. This is an illegal substance that is already outlawed but still making its rounds. Same goes for the prescription painkillers that circle around so frequently. These are legal over the counter medications that do indeed help some people with chronic pain. However, they are extremely dangerous and easy to obtain and overdose off of. Ohio has lead the country in the last 3 years in overdoses and deaths related to heroin and prescription painkillers. The DEA has already placed preemptive strikes on the pharmaceutical companies and is cutting production of painkillers for the year of 2017. This is a win for addicts and alcoholics all over the country fighting this disease. Yet once again, even these measures are not enough.
Through the governor’s Medicaid expansion plan, this has made treatment services rendered and help made available for those struggling all over the state of Ohio. Unfortunately, many still don’t ever make it or are presented with such fortunate opportunity to receive medical supervision and help. With addictions growing and a budget that is limited, talk about a man under fire. John Kasich explains that what can be done has been. This is where it gets tricky, though. With addiction and alcoholism being such tricky diseases and neurological imbalances, nothing will ever be enough until science happens to magically create a cure.
Kasich goes on to explain some of the realities of addiction to the press, and he stands correct. Kasich conveyed his message to Ohioans all over stating that one of the major elements to solving this problem with addiction and alcoholism treatment lies within the community. His claims are correct. Nobody gets through life by themselves- that’s just as blunt as it can be put. Everybody needs help at some point on their timeline and this goes especially true for addicts and alcoholics. Kasich states that addiction and alcoholism will not be beaten from the top down. The funding has been provided and the troops have been rallied more or less. It’s time for people to take initiative of their lives.
The reality is that the whole situation is a double edged sword. Kasich proclaims that his Medicaid expansion is doing swimmingly and essentially what can be done has been. The press and Ohioans all over maintain that the rise in addiction and overdoses over the last few years is due to a failure in the poor governance of Ohio and that a strong plan for the battle against opiates doesn’t exist. This may just very well be. The people have spoken and only time will tell.
Rising Statistics
Statistics can be boring and maybe not even pertain at times. However, the statistics for addiction are a very real factor and the numbers don’t lie. People are dying left and right from the disease of addiction/alcoholism and some never have the opportunity to really reach out for the help they need. It’s a shame and time for our country to start taking action and make a change in fighting this growing epidemic. If you or a loved one is struggling with chemical dependency and are ready for help, please call 1-800-481-8457 or visit oarcstaging.wpengine.com. We are ready to give you any suggestions possible and set you or your loved one on a path that we can all be proud of.
