ETSU and Virginia Tech recently received a combined $2.6 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to aid in their research on the opioid crisis in the Appalachian region.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 67,000 Americans died from drug overdose in 2018, with 70% of that population involving prescription pharmaceuticals and opioids. In 2016, Appalachians aged 15-64 were 65% more likely to die from a drug overdose than any other region in the United States. Though this number has decreased, there is still much work to be done to end this atrocity so prevalent in our nation.
The large sum of this grant has the potential to positively impact our community and open more doors for researching and spreading awareness of drug overdose. By failing to advertise the dangers of opioids to people who are most susceptible to them, we allow others to live in their ignorance.
Some students at ETSU have expressed dissatisfaction in that the money is allotted for the research of the drug crisis, feeling that it should have instead been given to clinics and research facilities who focus on assisting the individuals impacted by opioids.
According to research, drug rehabilitation programs are proven to reduce drug use by 40% to 60%, reduce criminal arrests by 40%, reduce the risk of HIV infection and increase the prospects of employment by 40%.
Due to how common opioid abuse is in Appalachia, several programs have been created and made available for the victims of addiction to help them recover and start a new life. Victims of addiction are just that: victims, and should be treated with love and compassion, regardless of the circumstances.
Addiction is a health issue not a criminal issue and one key step to change the stigma and fix the problem is acknowledging that. With the money from this grant, ETSU has the potential to leave a positive mark on our community that will last for generations.
