Abstract
Problem Significance
While opioids have been effective at treating pain for hundreds of years, opioid use disorder (OUD) is now a public health problem, killing 136 people a day. Each of the three waves of the opioid epidemic were led by different types of opioids, and currently, fentanyl deaths are significantly increasing. OUD occurs in all races and socioeconomic levels, but African Americans are more likely to die. West Virginia is the epicenter of the crisis, experiencing economic burdens and limited resources to lessen its impact.
Analysis and Objectives
Various determinants influence OUD. Misusing and sharing opioids are strong predictors in African Americans. The Social Ecological model can be used to understand these risk factors as well as guide interventions.
Intervention (Solution) Proposal
To address OUD, this project used a comprehensive intervention. At the intrapersonal level, a workshop for African American males aged 18-25 years old targeted knowledge and opioid misuse. For the interpersonal level, opioid sharing in community members aged 18-65 years old was addressed with social marketing, as African Americans receive most of their opioids from social circles.
Recommendations and Conclusions
OUD is a result of various interacting factors. The intervention proposed addressed individual behaviors and behaviors of others. There is no single solution to OUD, so interventions must be multilevel. One strength of this proposal is participants may not be aware of their risk factors for OUD, so the workshops improve knowledge, which is necessary for behavior change.