AdvocacyThroughLegislation

Identify a problem or concern in your state, community, or organization that has the capacity to be advocated through legislation. Research the issue and complete the sections below. For each topic that requires the listing of criteria, a minimum of two criteria should be identified and discussed. Add more rows as is appropriate for the topic/proposal. Problem In no more than 250 words, describe the problem, who is affected, and the current ramifications. Explain the consequences if the issue continues. Opioids are extremely addictive and too many times become a fatal addiction. Between June 2017 and April 2021, an estimated 9,053 opioid related deaths, and an astonishing 65,982 estimated opioid overdoses were reported in Arizona alone ADHS, 2021). This does not single out illegal drugs such as heroin, but also includes prescription opioids as well. Due to the nature of heroin administration, a dramatic increase in hepatitis or HIV have been documented (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2020). Despite the state of emergency called by Governor Ducey in 2016 in the effort to prevent addiction and reduce overdose and death, numbers continue to raise at alarming rates. More than two people die every day from overdoses in Arizona and it affects people of all ages, social classes, races and ethnicities, including the tiniest victims, newborn babies. Babies are increasingly being born passively dependent to opioids, and they experience symptoms of withdrawal just as an adult would (ADHS, n.d.). To combat this issue, the Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) in Arizona was created in the effort support the babies born with opioid dependence (ADHS, n.d.). Just as two people die from opioid overdose, two babies are born every day opioid dependent that need care to support.