Opidemic: A Public Health Epidemic

Opidemic - A Public Health Epidemic is a book written by a physician, who is a specialist in pain management and addiction. In addiction, J. Kimber Rotchford, M.D. is a master of Public Health. His book, takes the reader into potential preventive and therapeutic approaches to the opioid epidemic. The book is a compendium of medical writings on the topic. It reviews some of the basic medical understandings of opioid use disorders (OUDs) and addictions in general. It explores some of the myths surrounding opioid abuse, the complex risk factors associated with OUDs, and effective treatment strategies for OUDS. The rest of the book lays out the foundations for a public health response, fortunately already underway in Washington State. Because epidemics have been best addressed by professionals within the public health arena, it makes sense that their leadership would be solicited in addressing the current opioid abuse epidemic. As in a tuberculosis epidemic where a health officer would assure that effective treatment was readily available, health departments and their associated public health professionals and institutions are challenged to take a leadership role. The public health community has the expertise to assure a comprehensive and evidence-based approach. It also has the expertise to better secure collaborative efforts by various providers within a community. Public health currently lacks the financial and the clinical expertise. This is true both in most urban as well as rural communities. It also lacks a tradition of dealing with non-infectious epidemics. It did, however, effectively address the AIDS epidemic. To achieve this, it had to educate and attempt to change behavior regarding IV drug use and sexual behavior. Both AIDS and the opioid epidemic can be effectively managed by a combination of medical as well as behavioral interventions. Given proper funding and authority, I am confident public health would effectively manage the opioid crisis and achieve effective prevention strategies. The compendium has six chapters with associated links. The first two chapters provide some basics for understanding the opioid epidemic, along with common misunderstandings. The next chapter offers solutions with the help of an empowered public health response. Subsequent chapters give further background information regarding public health and clinical information. A primer for an informed public health response to an epidemic, epidemiology, is provided in chapter 4. The final chapters explore more detailed information regarding Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) in the care for opioid use disorders and lastly a brief discussion of the essential role of addictive substances in medical care.