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PSY-406 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN ADDICTION |
ACCURATE AND VERIFIED |2026 UPDATE
7-2 Project
Jennifer Thomas
PSY-406 Contemporary Issues in Addiction
Southern New Hampshire University
Professor Brian Foreman
MAY 15, 2026
, 2
The opioid epidemic is one of the most severe health crisis’ in our countries history, the United
States Department of Health and Human Services declared the opioid epidemic in October 2017
however it started long before then going back into the 1990’s when big pharma was pushing
opioid medication for pain management all while telling doctors, the FDA and the public that it
was not addictive. The definition of addiction per the American Society of Addiction is “a
treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics,
the environment, and an individual’s life experiences.” An individual addicted to opioids falls
under this definition, they crave the feeling the opioid gives them to the point that with or
without it their environment is effected however, it is possible to treat through various
therapeutic and support channels.
Opioid abuse has been a long and ongoing epidemic for years; millions of people suffer
from opioid use disorder involving both prescription and street opioids, like heroin. The
epidemic has touched Americans from all economic and social classes. This is a widespread
disease that rapidly spread throughout communities all over the Unites States not only negatively
affecting people’s physical health but their mental health, the health of the others within their
communities economically, socially as well as safety concerns arising in these areas. Something
else even worse is the large numbers of overdose deaths that have been a horrific consequence of
the opioid epidemic.
The labeling of opioid addiction as an epidemic has had a great impact on public policy
because it has forced lawmakers and government agencies to try and get a handle on certain
factors which contribute to the epidemic, for example the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
implementing required guidelines for prescribing opioid medication for chronic pain in place.
Also, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) works with the Department of Justice to prosecute
PSY-406 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN ADDICTION |
ACCURATE AND VERIFIED |2026 UPDATE
7-2 Project
Jennifer Thomas
PSY-406 Contemporary Issues in Addiction
Southern New Hampshire University
Professor Brian Foreman
MAY 15, 2026
, 2
The opioid epidemic is one of the most severe health crisis’ in our countries history, the United
States Department of Health and Human Services declared the opioid epidemic in October 2017
however it started long before then going back into the 1990’s when big pharma was pushing
opioid medication for pain management all while telling doctors, the FDA and the public that it
was not addictive. The definition of addiction per the American Society of Addiction is “a
treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics,
the environment, and an individual’s life experiences.” An individual addicted to opioids falls
under this definition, they crave the feeling the opioid gives them to the point that with or
without it their environment is effected however, it is possible to treat through various
therapeutic and support channels.
Opioid abuse has been a long and ongoing epidemic for years; millions of people suffer
from opioid use disorder involving both prescription and street opioids, like heroin. The
epidemic has touched Americans from all economic and social classes. This is a widespread
disease that rapidly spread throughout communities all over the Unites States not only negatively
affecting people’s physical health but their mental health, the health of the others within their
communities economically, socially as well as safety concerns arising in these areas. Something
else even worse is the large numbers of overdose deaths that have been a horrific consequence of
the opioid epidemic.
The labeling of opioid addiction as an epidemic has had a great impact on public policy
because it has forced lawmakers and government agencies to try and get a handle on certain
factors which contribute to the epidemic, for example the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
implementing required guidelines for prescribing opioid medication for chronic pain in place.
Also, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) works with the Department of Justice to prosecute
