Health Promotion Changing Face of Heroin

Question: Discuss about the Health Promotion for Changing Face of Heroin? Answer: The University of Toledo has made a commitment towards maintaining and promoting an academic and work environment free from any type of misuse and illegal use of drug and alcohol. This programme includes social, federal and state laws along with the regulations of Campus Safety and Federal Drug Free Schools (Johnston et al., 2010). This issue also possess a threat to the health of the University members. On 26th February of 2016, a team from The University of Toledo was formed for treating the overdose of heroin or heroin epidemic that occurred in Ohio (Daz-Briseo, 2010). Heroin addiction has affected thousands of individuals and family and has become an epidemic in Ohio. The attorney general of the state is assisting the task forces and local departments to fight against the heroin epidemic that is spreading inside the society. According to him, the outbreak of the heroin epidemic can be treated by a three-fold method and that is enforcement of law, medical and psychological treatment, and prevention (Ciero et al., 2014). In the year 2010, the number of deaths due to heroin addiction was around 300. In 2011, the number of deaths went up to 427 and then it increased to 725 in 2012. Over 900 people died in 2013 and it was an alarming situation for both the society and the government. After such situation, various governmental and non-governmental organizations took stern steps to fight the situation (Johnston, 2010). The team consisted of some health science students, faculty and staff. On 29th February 2016, the simulation began at the Health Science Campus. At this very first day they were introduces to the simulation suites of the medical education related to the heroin overdose issue. The students and the other staffs were also informed about how to deal with the heroin addicted people, and the medical treatment that can be provided to them along with the challenges that they might face while proceeding with the programme (Winstanley et al., 2012). Student from different branches participated in this programme and they were assigned with different tasks related to the programme. Several students were given the responsibilities to deal with the patient and to build up a relation with then in order to administer Narcan or Naloxone the antidote drug of heroin overdose, which was available in the pharmaceutical stores on over-the-counter (Johnston et al., 2010). The fire department students were assigned to transport the patients to the hospitals. The medical and nursing students were given the responsibility of the medical treatments of the patients. To provide better service, several discussion session with some experts were arranged where the student and doctors planned to gather and share their experiences with the experts. This discussion session was very helpful in understanding the scenario, realising the challenges and effectiveness of the programme to respond in a better way in the future (Manzano, 2015). The University of Toledo along with the city of Toledo enforced several code of general offences which include intoxication and disorderly conduct, abuse of drug and the control of possession or use, permitting abuse of Drug, Counterfeit the controlled substances, manufacturing, possession and sell of illegal drug. University has enforced the laws of State of Ohio and stated in the Ohio reverse code and each student, staff and faculty member was supposed to be familiarise with the revised code of Ohio. The Ohio Revised code (O.R.C.) provides that the illegal drugs should not be purchased and sold. There are penalties for violation of these rules (Daz-Briseo, 2010). The team of University of Toledo organized several family support group meetings with the families of the affected people where they shared their experiences and were advised how to handle the situation. The students raised funds to help the affected people and their family. The student towards the venture can consider this as genuine and significant efforts. Moreover, it can be stated to be a highly positive approach for the affected and targeted population of the context (Winstanley et al., 2012). The team of University of Toledo also promoted some policies for the members of the team who are working with the heroin addicted people. The team members must not consume, distribute, possess or be under the influence of heroin or any kind of illegal drug. Thus, the team promoted effective social message in order to improvise the current consequence and thereby tend to formulate an improvised social platform (Ciero et al., 2014). References: Cicero, T. J., Ellis, M. S., Surratt, H. L., Kurtz, S. P. (2014). The Changing Face Of Heroin use in the United States: a retrospective analysis of the past 50 years.JAMA psychiatry,71(7), 821-826. Daz-Briseo, J. (2010). CROSSING THE MISSISSIPPI: HOW BLACK TAR HEROIN MOVED INTO THE EASTERN UNITED STATES.SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, 71. Johnston, L. D. (2010).Monitoring the Future: National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975-2008: Volume II: College Students and Adults Ages 19-50. Diane Publishing. Johnston, L. D., O'Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., Schulenberg, J. E. (2010). Monitoring the Future: National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975-2009. Volume I: Secondary School Students. NIH Publication No. 10-7584.National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Manzano, V. (2015). The Creation of a Social Problem: Youth Culture, Drugs, and Politics in Cold War Argentina.Hispanic American Historical Review,95(1), 37-69. Winstanley, E. L., Gay, J., Roberts, L., Moseley, J., Hall, O., Christine Beeghly, B., ... Somoza, E. (2012). Prescription drug abuse as a public health problem in Ohio: a case report.Public Health Nursing,29(6), 553-562.