July 29, 2022

Substance Abuse

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Substance Abuse

In this episode, Pearl Evans and Dana Farley from the Minnesota Department of Health share their knowledge on opioids and substance abuse prevention.

Dana Farley

Associate Program Director Public Health and Communications at University of Minnesota
Alcohol & Drug Prevention Policy Director at MDH

Pearl Evans

Overdose Prevention Program Administrator with MDH Injury and Violence Prevention Section (past 2 years)
Master of Advocacy and Political Leadership from Metropolitan State University
Has been featured on podcasts and in several articles and publications

In addition to her professional experience, she speaks to her personal battle with addiction

Discussion Topics

“The United States has waged aggressive campaigns against substance use before, most notably during alcohol Prohibition in the 1920s and 1930s.” (NPR)
Modern-day example: cannabis
Intersection of war on drugs and racism

"Over the last 50 years, we've unfortunately seen the 'War on Drugs' be used as an excuse to declare war on people of color, on poor Americans and so many other marginalized groups" (NPR)
“Studies show from the outset drug laws were implemented with a stark racial bias, leading to unprecedented levels of mass incarceration for Black and brown men.” (NPR)

Have prescription drugs made the "epidemic" worse?
“More than 760,000 people have died since 1999 from a drug overdose. Two out of three drug overdose deaths in 2018 involved an opioid.” (US Dept. HHS)
“In 2016, the national rate of opioid-related hospitalizations was 297 per 100,000 population.” (US Dept. HHS)
“Emergency department visits for opioid overdoses rose 30% in all parts of the US from July 2016 through September 2017.” (US Dept. HHS)

“Opioid overdoses accounted for more than 42,000 deaths in 2016, more than any previous year on record. An estimated 40% of opioid overdose deaths involved a prescription opioid” (US Dept. HHS)
“In 2019, an estimated 10.1 million people aged 12 or older misused opioids in the past year. Specifically, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers and 745,000 people used heroin.” (US Dept. HHS)

Ages 12-17, white people had highest rates of illicit drug use followed by hispanic/latino
Ages 18-25, white people had highest rates of illicit drug use followed by black
Ages 26+, black people had highest rates of illicit drug use followed by white
In general, men use more illicit drugs than women
In general, those with the education level “some college” had the highest rates of illicit drug use (compared to <high school, high school graduate, and college graduate)

Are drugs increasing mental health issues and needs?
What does the data say about the effects on the family and community?
“But ending wars is hard and stigma surrounding drug use, heightened by a half-century of punitive policies, remains deeply entrenched” (NPR)

Large focus exists on preventing drug addiction/substance abuse during adolescent years
Research-based and/or evidence-based programs

“Research-based programs work to boost protective factors and eliminate or reduce risk factors for drug use” (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

“Many parts of the country will accelerate the shift toward a public health model for addiction: treating drug users more often like patients with a chronic illness and less often as criminals.” (NPR)

Sources