Prescription Painkillers Serve as a Gateway to Heroin Use

1. Where was the original research conducted (make a copy of this original research they are referring to in this article and hand it in with this assignment)?

The original research was conducted on a national scale using data obtained from 2006 to 2008 from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

2. State the problem or the topic that is being explored:

The topic explores the stance that the misuse of prescription painkillers, opioids such as Vicodin and Percocet, ultimately serves as a gateway to heroin use.

3. What was the purpose of this research and state this?

The purpose of the research was to examine the abuse of prescription opioids and to demonstrate how the emerging epidemic of prescription painkillers is a significant issue that fails to be recognized as a major problem by the general population. Hence, the general population does not realize that the abuse of prescription opioids is in the same realm as hard, illicit drugs and leads to drug addiction.

4. Does this research have significance of Nursing Practice, explain?

Since the information was obtained through a National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the research methodology is not significant to nursing practice. However, because the research pertains to the misuse and subsequent abuse of prescription opioids it can gravely impact nursing practice as these individuals may have to seek medical care for an eventual overdose in the future.

5. Does this article present a true representation of the research when compared with the original research, explain?

The article presents a true representation of the research when compared with the original research because the article explored the prevalence of the use of opiates. Although opiates aren't marketed to the consumer from pharmaceutical companies, they are easily accessible and available as they are prescribed by doctors; however, these opiates may serve as an introduction or reintroduction to a high that eventually leads to heroin use.

6. What are the credentials of the individuals conducting the research, how does this add or distract from the research that was conducted?

In the NY Times article, the research was conducted by a sociologist from Drexel University, an addiction researcher at Oregon Health and Science University, an addiction specialist at the Cleveland Clinic’s Alcohol and Drug Recovery Center, and a medical director of O.H.S.U. Richmond Community Health Center in Portland. This adds to the research because these researchers are from varying professions and all share a similar perspective based on the information collected.

7. How has the problem or topic been addressed in the past, is there background information presented, explain?

This problem has been explored for quite some time as researchers date back to the relevance of prescription painkillers as a gateway to heroin use since the pre-1990s.

8. What further research needs to be explored on this topic?

More research could be conducted to examine the correlation between the use of prescribed opiates and those individuals that have used heroin thereafter. Moreover, studies can compare that data with the data from individuals who have misused prescription painkillers yet have never tried heroin.

9. What questions does this article leave you with?

I am intrigued about the statistical significance regarding the use of prescription opioids as a gateway to heroin used in terms of its likelihood and prevalence.

10. Would you use this article or its references as a basis for further information on this topic, explain why or why not?

I would use the article to obtain further information on this topic because it is from reputable sources and has proven to be valid and significantly sound. Although the reference contains personal bias, it can be used as a guide for the topic.

References

Carey, Benedict. (Febrauary 2014). Prescription painkillers seen as a gateway to heroin. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/11/health/prescription-painkillers-seen-as-a-gateway-to-heroin.html?_r=0

Hackman, Michelle. (September 2012). Gateway drugs linked to prescription drug abuse. Yale Daily News. Retrieved from http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2012/09/04/gateway-drugs-linked-to-precription-drug-abuse/