Treatments for Diagnosing Opiate Use Disorder (OUD)

read the following paper from my college and response in one or more of the following ways:
Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research.
Share an insight from having read the below postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.
Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom and/or from your own research in the Montante library.
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the paper
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Opioid Crisis was declared a public health emergency on October 26, 2017 (CMS.gov, 2022). This declaration was the direct result of several statistics. First, more than 6 out of 10 overdose deaths in the United States involved opioids (CMS.gov, 2022). Secondly, the number of deaths surrounding opioid overdoses quadrupled since 1999 (CMS.gov, 2022). Lastly, in the span of approximately 15 years, nearly half a million deaths were the result of opioid overdoses (CMS.gov, 2022).
As for Randi, there are several ways we approach her case. The first is if she were to come to us immediately for post-injury follow-up. The first step in the standards of pain management according to the Join Commission tell us to do is to screen for pain (JoinCommission.org, 2023). This will determine if there is a problem. If the patient answers “yes”, then a more thorough assessment is required (JoinCommission.org, 2023). Even though Fink’s 2000 article is over 20 years old, the information contained within remains invaluable. Fink encourages the use of the WILDA scale, which is an ongoing assessment that examines 5 areas, similar to the PQRST method (Fink, 2000). Those areas are “words to describe”, “intensity”, “location”, “duration”, and “aggravating/alleviating factors” (Fink, 2000). If done correctly, and at each visit, a practitioner can glean patterns, and data to help them treat pain. Depending on Randi’s assessment, her medication regimen would be possibly modified to mitigate potential abuse.
The second approach is for when it’s been determined that Randi does, indeed, have a problem with opiate use, or diagnosed with Opiate Use Disorder (OUD). Evidence supports the use of Medication Assisted Treatment, or MAT, especially in the Primary Care Setting (Ghanem, et al., 2022). This approach provides medication therapy, with behavioral therapy components. Many times these visits consist of meeting with the medical provider, as well as a counselor simultaneously to provide a comprehensive approach to treatment (Ghandem, 2022).
Working in a Community Behavioral Health Center, I’ve been fortunate to see a MAT program operate firsthand. I’ve seen not only the benefits, but the obstacles as well. One obstacle relates to one of the medications we use, called Sublocade. Sublocade is a long-acting, subcutaneous injectable form of buprenorphine (FDA.gov, 2017). Initially, the problem was with obtaining insurance authorization, however, New York State has passed legislation that has greatly simplified the authorization and availability of the drug.
References:
Fink R. (2000). Pain assessment: the cornerstone to optimal pain management. Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center), 13(3), 236–239.
https://doi(dot)org/10.1080/08998280.2000.11927681Links to an external site.
Food and Drug Administration (2017, November 30). FDA approves first once-monthly buprenorphine injection, a medication-assisted treatment option for opioid use disorder.
FDA.gov. https://www(dot)fda(dot)gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-once-monthly- Links to an external site.buprenorphine-injection-medication-assisted-treatment-option-opioid.
Ghanem, N., Dromgoole, D., Hussein, A. & Jermyn, R. (2022). Review of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 122(7), 367-
https://doi(dot)org/10.1515/jom-2021-0163Links to an external site.
The Joint Commission (2023, January 4). Pain Assessment and Management – Understanding the Requirements. JointCommission.org.
https://www(dot)jointcommission(dot)org/standards/standard-faqs/hospital-and-hospital- Links to an external site.clinics/provision-of-care-treatment-and-services-pc/000002161/