In German Lopez’s article “America is in the Middle of its Worst Drug Epidemic ever. Obamacare’s Repeal could make it Worse,” he reports that America is facing terrible drug crisis, and Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) provides health insurance for many people both for their annual medical checkups and day-to-day drug abuse treatment. Lopez also reports that Donald Trump and the Republican Congress wants to repeal the Obamacare, and this will result to about twenty-two million people uninsured including those with drug abuse treatment.
Some people legally obtain drugs like opioid painkillers and synthetic opioids through prescriptions and become addicted, and that caused the increase in the opioid abuse and deaths. Realizing the effects of the painkillers, doctors were warned not to prescribe such drugs unnecessarily. Those addicted and could not have access to painkillers through prescriptions or can no longer afford them turned to cheaper more potent opioids; heroin and fentanyl that are produced illegally for non-medical use. According to Lopez, “a 2014 study in JAMA Psychiatry found many painkiller users were moving on to heroin, and a 2015 analysis by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that people who are addicted to prescription painkillers are 40 times more likely to be addicted to heroin”,and these people are supported by the Obamacare.
Federal and state officials have to find a solution and Obamacare came to play a leading role letting access to care for millions of Americans. If the Obamacare is repealed many people might be left without adequate health care. Donald Trump and the Republican Congress are trying to repeal the Obamacare and that will leave millions of Americans without health insurance. The Republican dominated Congress have not yet come up with any plan to fill the cap. Lopez further reports that the Republican replacement plan may not have adequate coverage for both annual medical checkups and treatment of drug use disorder. Therefore, if the Republicans repeal the Obamacare without replacing it with a proper health insurance, about 22 million Americans will be left uninsured.
