Abstract
The opioid epidemic is a national issue in the USA (The White House’s Office of Press Secretary 2016). Researchers interviewed 16 participants focusing on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats they personally experienced while either recovering from an opioid addiction or experiencing the loss of a loved one due to opioid usage. This article focuses on the research study’s multi-systemic impacts and discusses implications via a systems approach to prevention and intervention.
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Appendix
Appendix
First, thank you very much for your willingness to be a participant in our research and taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with us. The purpose of this research is to focus on reducing overdose death rates, reduce the misuse and abuse of opioids, and increase the survival rates for those experiencing an opioid addiction. We want to empower our community and individuals to further facilitate community activation and strengthen coalitions in addressing the epidemic of drug abuse. Do you have any questions?
Initial question: Please share with us your experience with opioid misuse or overdose.
SWOT Questions
Thank you for sharing your experience. Now, we are going to ask you a series of questions concerning the prevention and intervention of opioid and heroin use and overdose.
STRENGTHS
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1.
What does your community do well?
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2.
What unique resources does your community have in place?
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3.
What resource was the most helpful for you, when you needed it the most?
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4.
What do you see as the strengths in your community?
WEAKNESSES
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1.
What could be improved in your community?
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2.
What resources are needed in your community to address this issue?
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3.
What do you see as the weaknesses?
OPPORTUNITIES/SERVICES (include educational & mental health opportunities)
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1.
What opportunities and or services (including educational & mental health) are available in your community?
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2.
What opportunities and or services (including educational & mental health) would you recommend be provided?
THREATS
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1.
What challenges may have contributed to you or your loved ones efforts in becoming drug-free?
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2.
What recommendations do you have to address the challenges within the community?
Debriefing Statement
Thank you for taking the time to volunteer and participate in this study. I sincerely appreciate your willingness to further the understanding of the drug use in your community. There will be no further contact from me regarding your participation in the research. If you feel stressed or uncomfortable as a result of participating in the interview, we have a list of professional mental health counselors that are available in your community. Again, thank you for your time.
***Hand out the MH referrals***.
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Vincenzes, K.A., McMahon, B., Lange, J. et al. Systemic Issues in the Opioid Epidemic: Supporting the Individual, Family, and Community. Int J Ment Health Addiction 17, 1214–1228 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-018-0041-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-018-0041-3