Week 3 Midweek Assignment Research Proposal Draft

Sample Answer

Opioids are generally used for pain relief and include fentanyl, morphine, and tramadol. However, their non-medical use, extended use, misuse, and administration without medical supervision can contribute to opioid dependence and other health problems. The purpose of this assignment is to present a research proposal draft for the identified problem.

Background and Significance of the Problem

Opioid overdose has been a growing concern, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The evidence shows that the Covid19 pandemic augmented the use and abuse of opioids in different states across the US. This was attributed to Covid-19 restrictions that limited access to healthcare services for Americans (Ghose et al., 2022).

Besides, Covid-19 restrictions like curfews, social distancing, and shutting of recreational facilities heightened the opioid overdose problem. The problem is significant due to its health impacts, leading to increased ED visits, accidental deaths, and opioid dependence. The typical feature of opioid dependence is a strong internal drive to take opioids, which manifests in an impaired ability to control its use (Ghose et al., 2022).

This leads to an individual prioritizing opioid use over other activities and persistently using opioids in spite of harm or adverse consequences to one’s health and overall well-being.

Statement of the Problem and Purpose of the Study

Opioid overdose during the Covid-19 pandemic was attributed to declined mental health, increased social isolation, job losses, and decreased access to treatment. The worst effect of opioid overdose has been observed in low-income, urban neighborhoods, affecting minority ethnic groups, particularly Black and Hispanic communities (Ghose et al., 2022).

A solution is needed to offset the health effects of the opioid overdose problem in the affected populations. This includes administering FDA-approved opioid antagonists like Naloxone. Increasing the awareness and availability of Naloxone is essential to the public health response to the opioid epidemic (Strang et al., 2019). The purpose of this study is to develop a system that can facilitate the rapid administration of medications that would counteract the effects of an overdose.

Research Questions

• Can rapid administration of medications that reverse opioid action counteract the effects of the opioid overdose epidemic?
  
• Can distributing Naloxone to opioid abusers and people at risk of opioid overdose reduce the health effects of overdose?
  
• Can incorporating drug abuse prevention into schools and organizations’ training, curriculum, and policies curb the opioid epidemic

Hypothesis Research and Null

• Alternative hypothesis Rapid administration of opioid antagonists significantly counteracts the health effects of an overdose.
  
• Null hypothesis Rapid administration of opioid antagonists does not counteract the health effects of opioid overdose.
  

Identifying and Defining Study Variables

The independent variable for this study is the administration of an opioid antagonist. The dependent variables are opioid dependence, opioid-related ED visits, and opioid-related overdose deaths.

Operationalize Variables

Administration of opioid antagonists will entail administering Naloxone to persons with opioid dependence and those at risk of opioid overdose. Naloxone will be made accessible in local drugstores.

The dependent variable of opioid dependence will be measured by evaluating reports of patients diagnosed with opioid dependence in any healthcare setting. Opioid-related ED visits and overdose deaths will also be analyzed to measure the impact of naloxone administration in reducing ED visits and overdose deaths.

Conclusion

Opioid overdose was a growing public health concern during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was caused by Covid-19 restrictions, job losses, and poor mental health. Administration of opioid antagonists to persons with opioid dependence and those at risk is the proposed solution to counteract the effects of opioid overdose. It is anticipated that administering antagonists like Naloxone will curb the health effects of opioid overdose and lower opioid overdose-related deaths.

References

• Ghose, R., Forati, A. M., & Mantsch, J. R. (2022). Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Opioid Overdose Deaths a Spatiotemporal Analysis. Journal of urban health bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 99(2), 316–327. https //doi.org/10.1007/s11524-022-00610-0
  
• Strang, J., McDonald, R., Campbell, G., Degenhardt, L., Nielsen, S., Ritter, A., & Dale, O. (2019). Take-home naloxone for the emergency interim management of opioid overdose the public health application of an emergency medicine. Drugs, p. 79, 1395–1418. https //doi.org/10.1007/s40265-019-01154-5