The epidemic outbreak of opioid abuse rises treacherously in America. This epidemic is impartially claiming and destroying countless lives in its path. Sadly, children are being counted in this ordeal, many have become innocent victims of this epidemic outbreak. in an article by the editorial board of The New York Times, this concern was highlighted, bringing to the forefront, the horrific, but real issues of this epidemic. The New York Times is a reputable source, founded since September 18th, 1851,ranks 39th in the world circulation and are currently credible publishers.
On January 16th 2017, The New York Times published an article, titled: Young Victims Of The Opioid Epidemic. This article states that opioid overdoses have claimed the lives of more than 300,000 individuals. That claim just in the last fifteen years. Another jaw-dropping revelation in this article shows that this number includes 33,000 lives claimed by this epidemic in 2015 alone. The New York Times refers to a case in Pennsylvania, where a couple dies as a result of overdose, survived by their baby, who perished a few days later due to starvation.
The rise in the need for foster care according to The New York Times, are one of the attributes of this outbreak. They are claiming that there has been a significant rise in three years of the amount of children in foster care. The overdose of opioids are disabling parents, mentally, physically, emotionally and even terminating their lives. Therefore the children who are left behind are rescued by welfare officials or relatives, most children are placed in foster care. The problem is not being addressed properly by the state, federal or local officials as argued by the New York Times. Years of budget cutbacks constituted to a loss of caseworkers. This detrimental domino effect creates a challenge to produce positive results in assisting the children that are affected by this epidemic crisis.
The abuse of opioids ( powerful prescription drugs ), has become undeniably one of our greatest concerns on the war on drugs. This epidemic has been proven by statistics, that children have become one of its prime victims. There isn’t a wide range of solution to this problem, due largely to the lack of financial stability in America. Children continue to suffer a plight caused by the very ones who should guard them ( their parents). There has to be a better solution, preferably, cutting at the root, so to speak, of the problem (the need for opioids). Are opioids the only avenue to solving the problem of pain? could there be another way?
There are direct and indirect ways that this epidemic of opioid abuse affect children. The New York times has expounded on some of the widespread topics. Such as are evident to the brutal nature of this epidemic: parentless children, the lack of proper shelter, including foster care, insufficient governmental output or input, insufficient funding. All these factors are partial participants in the ongoing escalation of the needless suffering children experience from this epidemic. My personal belief is that if greater and more effective solutions are not reached sooner, this epidemic of opioid abuse will rollover to the next generation. Our children are the future, we have to invest now to save the future (our children).
