Identifying a Vulnerable Population from the Opioid Crisis
Identifying a Vulnerable Population from the Opioid Crisis
Vulnerable Population
A vulnerable population generally encompasses the group of people who are highly predisposed to being disadvantaged in a society, for example, due to their defining characteristics of accorded status. With respect to the opioid crisis, vulnerable populations are individuals who are at a higher risk of experiencing deleterious consequences as a result of opioid use or misuse. This could be a result of their socioeconomic status, environmental circumstances, and health conditions. There are far-reaching implications for the vulnerable population, including barriers to accessing the requisite healthcare services and resources to effectively address opioid-related issues. To effectively understand and address the needs of such individuals, there is a need to collectively develop comprehensive strategies aimed at alleviating the underlying causes, such as the opioid crisis.
There are various groups that are negatively affected by the opioid crisis, such as those with chronic pain, where opioids are prescribed to enable them to manage the pain. Continued use of opioids results in tolerance, which, if not corrected, results in dependence and a high predisposition to misuse (Flores et al., 2023). Misuse of prescribed opioids can further be exacerbated by a lack of other viable alternatives. The opioid crisis is also more pronounced among racial and ethnic minorities due to issues like inadequate treatment and challenges in accessing the appropriate treatment for addiction.
The Selected Specific Group
One group that is more affected by the opioid crisis is the African Americans. Studies show that between 2011 and 2016, this cohort had the highest increase in overdose deaths related to the use of opioids compared to all other populations (Gibbons et al., 2023). The trend has continued to increase, including in recent years, prompting in-depth evaluation of the potential underlying causes of this notable disparity. Research shows that these increases are, in part, attributed to disparities in opioid prescribing and pain management, where African Americans are largely undertreated for pain, which prompts them to seek relief through illicit opioids (Knoebel et al., 2021). Additional predisposing factors to this trend include their increased risks to fentanyl exposure and their presenting socioeconomic attributes like unemployment and poverty, which create a conducive environment for substance abuse.
Healthcare Policies/Programs that Could Potentially Affect the Identified Vulnerable Population
African Americans garner notable benefits from the Medicaid policy changes. Note that this program provides healthcare coverage for low-income parties. Its review and expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) resulted in an expanded eligibility criteria to include low-income adults (Lee et al., 2021). Consequently, multiple underinsured and uninsured individuals gained access to this coverage compared to the trend in the past. Besides, telehealth increasing relevance and use in recent years has increased access to requisite healthcare, including among those in rural areas, and the previously underprivileged and vulnerable populations.
Impact
The outlined Medicaid changes had multiple benefits for African Americans, including streamlined eligibility, which made it easier for them to enroll and maintain coverage, and increased access to treatment. According to Lee et al. (2021), the expansion also resulted in a reduction in the financial barriers required to access care among African Americans, which resulted in improved healthcare outcomes. Telehealth has also resulted in increased access to care among previously vulnerable populations, improved convenience and flexibility, and overall, improved chronic disease management.
Strategies on How Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) can contribute to Reducing and Eliminating Healthcare Disparities
APNs are at the forefront in providing culturally-competent care. The knowledge and skills they gain from their professional and developmental programs enable them to provide competent care that acknowledges and respects the unique preferences, values, and beliefs of the presenting patients. For example, they are trained to use language that is tailored to the patient’s understanding level. APNs are also at the forefront of addressing social determinants of health as they seek to uncover the social factors, such as food insecurity, that impact healthcare outcomes (Oruche & Zapolski, 2020). They can also collaborate with other stakeholders, such as social workers, to tailor comprehensive plans that effectively address the presenting needs of vulnerable populations. Importantly, APNs can engage in advocacy and education initiatives to improve the public’s knowledge of important aspects like preventative care and self-management techniques.
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