Shiflet, Molly
(2019)
Addressing the opioid epidemic through an evaluation of overdose prevention policies at colleges and universities in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and across the United States.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
The opioid epidemic plaguing the United States is the greatest public health emergency the nation has experienced since the AIDS epidemic, and it is by far the worst addiction crisis in American history. The extremely high number of overdose deaths makes this drug crisis deadlier than gun violence, car crashes, and AIDS, none of which have killed as many individuals in a single year. The public health significance of this crisis is clear given the devastatingly high number of opioid overdose deaths experienced by individuals of all races, ages, genders, and socioeconomic statuses. In addition to the human cost, the economic costs attributable to opioid misuse, overdose, and death are extensive. In order to address this complex problem, it is essential that leaders across all sectors – including government, law enforcement, healthcare, and education – take action to combat the opioid crisis. Thus, it is imperative that colleges and universities play a role in a collaborative effort through the implementation of comprehensive and effective policies pertaining to opioid overdose prevention. The objective of this essay is to critically examine the wide array of opioid-related polices on college campuses throughout the U.S. in order to form the basis for the development of broad policy recommendations. These policy recommendations can then be utilized to evaluate Allegheny County colleges and universities based on the comprehensiveness of their overdose prevention policies. The evaluation of these colleges is done in a gradebook style format, with each college receiving a final letter grade of A through F. Further, the administration at these institutions and others across the country should be encouraged to utilize the gradebook in order to help drive future policy decisions aimed at reducing non-medical opioid use and, subsequently, fatal overdoses.
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
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| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Barron, Gerald | gbarron@pitt.edu | gbarron | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Buchanich, Jeanine | jeanine@pitt.edu | jeanine | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Simmons, Alison | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED |
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| Date: |
11 April 2019 |
| Date Type: |
Submission |
| Number of Pages: |
47 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Health Policy & Management |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Date Deposited: |
14 Oct 2019 16:07 |
| Last Modified: |
14 Oct 2019 16:07 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/36223 |
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