Respond?to two?of your colleagues?by expanding on their response and providing an example that supports their explanation or respectfully challenging their explanation and providing a
Respond to two of your colleagues by expanding on their response and providing an example that supports their explanation or respectfully challenging their explanation and providing an example.
See peer responses attached
Peer 1
Discussion1
The opioid epidemic in the United States has become a pressing public health issue, with devastating consequences for individuals, families, and communities (Janakiram et al., 2018). A key social determinant that significantly affects the opioid epidemic is economic stability. Social, economic and environmental variables are as influential in the opioid epidemic as health and biomedical factors (Johnson.,2019). individuals facing low economic status are at an increased risk of falling into the cycle of addiction. The lack of access to economic opportunities can push individuals towards seeking solace in potentially harmful substances.
In recent years, two presidents, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, have addressed the opioid epidemic in different ways. Obama recognized the urgent need for intervention and implemented several initiatives to expand access to addiction treatment and prevention programs. He also advocated for increased funding for research and development of alternative pain management therapies, as well as supporting legislation to increase access to naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses. On the other hand, President Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency in 2017, which allowed for the allocation of additional resources to address the epidemic. His administration also focused on law enforcement efforts to combat the illegal distribution of opioids, with an emphasis on border security and cracking down on the flow of illicit drugs into the country.
If I were faced with addressing the opioid epidemic, I would take a comprehensive approach that addresses both the supply and demand sides of the issue. I would allocate resources to expand access to affordable and evidence-based addiction treatment services, including medication-assisted treatment. I would also prioritize education and prevention programs that target at-risk populations, providing them with the tools and support they need to make informed decisions about substance use and recovery. Additionally, I would work towards improving economic stability by implementing policies that promote job creation, access to quality education and healthcare, and affordable housing.
Referance
Janakiram, C., Chalmers, N I., Fontelo, P., Huser, V., Mitnik, G L., Iafolla, T., Brow, A., & Dye, B A. (2018, April 1). Sex and race or ethnicity disparities in opioid prescriptions for dental diagnoses among patients receiving Medicaid. https://scite.ai/reports/10.1016/j.adaj.2018.02.010
Johnson, M I. (2019, May 21). The Landscape of Chronic Pain: Broader Perspectives. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55050182
PEER 2
When considering a population health topic that rises up to the governmental and presidential level, the first thing that immediately came to mind was the obesity crisis that is ongoing in the United States. In this current era of instant gratification, inaccessibility to healthy foods, and high costs of living, no wonder it has become a challenge for parts of the populations to develop and maintain healthy lifestyle habits. Today in the U.S. it is estimated that approximately almost half of the population of adults are obese at a staggering 41.9% (Trust for America’s Health. 2023). This is an alarming statistic that is unfortunately not surprising, if not for the reasons that were stated above. One can walk through a grocery store and compare costs of fresh fruits and vegetables and the amount one would get for the cost, and then compare to the cost of fast, quickly prepared, processed meals. This is a social determinant that exists today, purely because rapidly increasing food costs make it difficult for individuals to adapt healthy eating and lifestyle habits, considering the amounts one would get at a grocery store compared to a restaurant.
With the obesity pandemic, a quick perusal of the White House site details out the Biden- Harris Administration’s plan to combat hunger, nutrition and health through a ‘Five Pillar’ system, which essentially boils down to increasing food access and affordability, education and empowerment on all citizens, with a special interest in the underserved communities; such as those who receive Medicare/Medicaid. Through education within these communities about the benefits of a diet rich in healthy, fresh foods, as well as education and supporting of physical activity, there are hopes to thus decrease obesity rates, food insecurity, and overall health reduction in preventable diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, etc. (The United States Government, 2022). In 2010 under the Obama Administration, the focus was on preventative measures at the childhood level, with the creation of the Let’s Move! Campaign. By starting to educate and combat obesity at the childhood level this could help to create healthy eating habits and promote physical activity in children, thus reducing risk of childhood obesity complications and create lifelong healthy physical and eating habits. This movement became well known through the work of then-First Lady Michelle Obama, with her interests in education and encouraging physical activity and improving on the types of food our children receive in school. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables help to improve focus, behavior, sleep and overall activity levels in children to set them up for a better, healthier future. Under the Trump administration, their health plan didn’t necessarily target specific issues such as obesity, but rather looked to improve changes to the current medical system that exists through lowering prescription drug prices, increasing access to affordable care, and improve insurance and hospital price transparency. His policies looked to cover individuals with those pre-existing conditions, rather than focus on prevention in the first place.
Given the opportunity to effect change on this growing problem, I would do things differently by starting with community outreach and education to all areas, not just one specific entity. If nurses and various healthcare providers partnered with local legislators as well as public health departments, we could provide free education on healthy eating habits, the benefits of healthy eating and its long-term effects on the human body when combined with regular physical activity, and reduction in preventable diseases that are typically concurrent with obesity. By developing credibility with those active in the political process and demonstrating integrity and moral purpose as client advocates, nurses are becoming players in the complex process of policy making (Milstead, J.A. & Short, N.M. Health Policy and Politics, 2017). I do think that starting at a childhood level to help combat obesity and start education on healthy eating habits is smart, but think that also adding in how to manage money at the early adolescent and teen level would benefit as well since this is when we start seeing young adults really start to make their own independent choices on meals.
References
Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse's guide (6th ed.). Jones & Barlett Learning.
O’Rourke, N. C., Crawford, S. L., Morris, N. S., & Pulcini, J. (2017). Political efficacy and participation of nurse practitioners. Policy, Politics, and Nursing Practice, 18(3), 135–148.
Trust for America’s Health. (2023, June 14). Htps://www.tfah.org/issue-details/obesity-chronic-
disease/.
The United States Government. (2022, September 26). Executive summary: Biden-Harris
Administration National Strategy on hunger, nutrition, and health. The White House.
biden-harris-administration-national-strategy-on-hunger-nutrition-and-health/
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