I have been reading efforts from the State of Michigan regarding the opioid crisis we are currently in. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, we are 5.2% higher than the national average of 13.3% of deaths per 100,000 [1]. You know something is really wrong when your rate of death due to opioid abuse/overdose is higher than the national average. They also mentioned that for every 100 persons, 96 were prescribed opioids in Michigan while the national average is 70% in 2015. Now, those are both equally high numbers. However, I have scanned through google and google scholar for articles on causes of the opioid crisis only to find out that there are very limited studies on them. Plenty of studies on treatments but why is no one focusing on the root cause? Have we gotten so lost on the scientific aspect that we forgot one important thing? Opioid is in both illegal drugs (i.e. heroin) and prescription pain medicine. Commonality between them? They are pain killers. People, regardless of age, want the ‘opioid escape.’
I am not a doctor but I understand depression very clearly how it affects my way of life and the people I love. My life was a roller coaster since I came to the United States and even prior to that. It took me eight years to find my happy place. The severity of my episodic depression might be incomparable to other people but I know the pain of it. I empathize with people especially kids who struggle dealing with it at such a young age. In the Philippines, it is not as easily understood. We also have bigger priorities like making money to get food on the table that this issue may have been swept under the rug. I digress but I can only surmise the reason why there is drug abuse of opioids is because these users are depressed. Worst part of it is, depression holds no preference for age, race, ethnicity or religion. It also disregards whether you are a straight A student or not. Thankfully, my mother has ingrained in my head that drugs are bad. It crossed my mind and almost went through it. Looking back, I know I did the right thing by not destroying the life that I was given.
As generations go by, I believe kids and even those with supposed wisdom in their years no longer have the capability to deal with stress, anxiety and/or depression. We have so many things that can easily albeit temporarily relieve our pain that we forget to resolve the issue. As human beings, we have the tendency to be ‘lazy’ and opt for the easy route. How many of us can honestly do or have done what Robert Frost did in his poem “The Road Not Taken” below?
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
Speaking from my own experience and what I have seen as a teacher in urban K-12 schools, depression, anxiety and stress are prevailing issues that have not been adequately addressed. I understand there are counselors helping students who ‘act up.’ However, why wait until they do? Why not spread an awareness that each and everyone of us may have experienced it or continue to do so without dealing it properly? Not only does it affect students, but also it affects teachers. I have heard of a teacher in his early to mid 20s taking anxiety pills because of the students. I can only imagine the high stress levels a lot of other teachers in high-need schools face when dealing with disrespectful kids. In my day, you could not get a word out unless spoken to. Today, kids do whatever they want and they will run you over if you do not run a tight ship. Give them a piece of candy, they want the whole cake.
Some teachers may have spoken that we need to lock some of these kids up or they immediately warn me, a sub, who the bad kid is. I hate prejudice despite the numerous instances the kid has been involved for being disruptive and so forth. I like the warning but I hate the fact that my rose-colored glasses have been tainted. My mantra is to start fresh everyday. I learned that as a current preschool teacher. It is true that younger kids do not know any better but I think some of these middle and high school students are similar. To a certain extent, I can forgive them. It is just that I do not expect their maturity level to be the same as their grade level. Because of it, I am able to adjust accordingly.
I have seen some of the best and the worst students while having only taught for a short period of time. I got a glimpse of the dynamics of the school system and there is much to improve upon. I believe I have only barely scratched the surface of these issues but I recognize that it is there and would like to see changes in that. Programs and awareness campaigns regarding opioids is great and all but addressing the white elephant — depression, anxiety, and stress — would be an even greater investment. These will equip everyone, regardless of age, the ability and tools to handle whatever life throws our way.
Agree or disagree?
#depression #anxiety #stress #pills #treatmentvsuprootingthecause #K12education #Michigan #opioidcrisis #understandingopioidaddiction #addiction #heroin #drugs #drugabuse #robertfrost #theroadnottaken #opioidawareness #antiopioidcampaign #teenissues #youngadult #teens #teenagers #collegestudents
Reference:
[1] https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state/michigan-opioid-summary
Other interesting resources regarding opioids:
Published By
Anna Canto I read. I reflect. I write. I learn.
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.