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Post your response to the discussion question: Consider a population health topic that rises to the presidential agenda level. Which social determinant most affects this health issue? How did two recent presidents handle the problem?

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Post your response to the discussion question: Consider a population health topic that rises to the presidential agenda level. Which social determinant most affects this health issue?

Post your response to the discussion question: Consider a population health topic that rises to the presidential agenda level. Which social determinant most affects this health issue?
Rather than focus on the treatment of chronic disease, policies that influence population health tend to emphasize prevention and wellness; the reduction or elimination of waste and the eradication of health disparities based on race, ethnicity, language, income, gender, sexual orientation, disability and other factors. The reasoning is that good health belongs to the whole, not just an individual. (New York State Dept. of Health, n.d.)

Regardless of political affiliation, every citizen has a stake in healthcare policy decisions. Hence, it is little wonder why healthcare items become such high-profile components of presidential agendas. It is also little wonder why they become such hotly debated agenda items.

Consider a topic (mental health, HIV, opioid epidemic, pandemics, obesity, prescription drug prices, or many others) that rises to the presidential level. How did the current and previous presidents handle the problem? What would you do differently?

Reference:
New York State Department of Health. (n.d.). Making New York the healthiest state: Achieving the triple aim. Retrieved June 21, 2021 from https://www.health.ny.gov/events/population_health_summit/docs/what_is_population_health.pdf

To Prepare:

  • Review the Resources and reflect on the importance of agenda setting.
  • Consider how federal agendas promote healthcare issues and how these healthcare issues become agenda priorities.

Post your response to the discussion question: Consider a population health topic that rises to the presidential agenda level. Which social determinant most affects this health issue? How did two recent presidents handle the problem? What would you do differently?

Expert Answer and Explanation

Presidential Agendas: The Opioid Epidemic

The opioid epidemic has been a critical issue at the presidential level due to its devastating impact on public health, the economy, and communities across the United States. Recent administrations have approached the crisis with varying strategies, combining public health measures, law enforcement, and regulatory actions. The Trump administration declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency in 2017, increasing federal funding for prevention, treatment, and law enforcement (Chandler et al., 2020).

Efforts included cracking down on illegal drug trafficking and expanding access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT). The Biden administration has built upon these efforts by emphasizing harm reduction strategies, increasing access to naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal drug), and expanding mental health and substance abuse treatment services. Despite these efforts, challenges remain, including disparities in access to treatment and the continued rise of synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

While progress has been made, current policies could benefit from a greater emphasis on long-term prevention rather than short-term interventions. A public health-centered approach should include enhanced education programs to prevent opioid misuse. The stigma surrounding addiction remains a significant barrier, preventing many individuals from seeking help (Welby, 2024). Addressing this requires nationwide efforts to normalize addiction as a treatable condition, ensuring that individuals can access care without fear of discrimination or legal consequences.

If given the opportunity to handle this crisis differently, my focus would be on expanding harm reduction strategies and increasing access to mental health support before individuals develop substance use disorders (Purtle & Lewis, 2017). Investment in comprehensive early intervention programs, such as school-based prevention initiatives and universal mental health screenings, could help identify and support at-risk populations before addiction takes hold.

References

Chandler, R. K., Villani, J., Clarke, T., McCance-Katz, E. F., & Volkow, N. D. (2020). Addressing opioid overdose deaths: The vision for the HEALing communities study. Drug and alcohol dependence, 217, 108329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108329

Links to an external site.

Purtle, J., & Lewis, M. (2017). Mapping “trauma-informed” legislative proposals in US Congress. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 44, 867-876. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-017-0799-9

Links to an external site.

Welby, K. A. (2024). Schools as a Lens for Understanding the Opioid Epidemic: Impacts on Students and Educators in Crisis. Taylor & Francis.

Alternative Expert Answer

Approaches to addressing Public Health Crisis

Poverty is the social determinant that contributes to the opioid crisis. When one is economically disadvantaged, they are likely to use opioids because they may use opioids to forget their problems. In poor neighborhoods, the use of opioids for recreation is rampant, and being in this kind of environment can significantly increase one’s risk of substance use (Barlas, 2017).

There have been concerted efforts by different administrations to address certain public health care issues including the opioid epidemic. For more than four decades, the United States (U.S.) has struggled with containing the opioid problem, and in certain cases, successive governments have pursued different approaches to address the problem. President Obama’s administration, for instance, proposed strengthening of monitoring of opioids and other prescription medications, as part of efforts to minimize the impact of the opioid epidemic (New York State Department of Health, n.d.).

He also recommended expanding access to treatment for victims of substance abuse, proposing the allocation of $1 billion for this course. Some of the changes his administration implemented came later during the final months of his administration when the fentanyl problem had already worsened.

For his part, President Biden has adopted a raft of measures with focus on bringing to a halt the opioid crisis. Recently, the president requested the allocation of $46.1 billion to  support the drug-control activities managed by the federal agencies that control drugs.

I would address the opioid problem by calling for the adoption of the Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST). This kind of therapy involves replacing any opioid drug with a different medication that prevents overdependence on the opioid (Mohapatra, Nayak, & Dash, 2017). With the OST, the craving for the opioid reduces, causing a decline in addiction.

References

Barlas, S. (2017). U.S. and States Ramp Up Response to Opioid Crisis: Regulatory, Legislative, and Legal Tools Brought to Bear. P & T : a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management, 42(9), 569–592.

Mohapatra, S., Nayak, M. R., & Dash, M. (2017). A Clinical Study of Opioid Substitution Therapy in a Tertiary Care Center of Eastern India. Indian journal of psychological medicine, 39(6), 756–759. https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_61_17.

New York State Department of Health. (n.d.). Making New York the healthiest state: Achieving the triple aim. Retrieved June 21, 2021 from https://www.health.ny.gov/events/population_health_summit/docs/what_is_population_health.pdf.

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Benchmark - Capstone Change Project Implementation Plan

  • Short, N. M. (2022). Milstead’s health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (7th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
    • Chapter 1, “Informing Public Policy: An Important Role for Registered Nurses” (pp. 2–23 only)
    • Chapter 3, “Problem Identification and Agenda Setting: What Rises to a Policymaker’s Attention?” (pp. 57–71)
    • Chapter 10, “Financing Health Care” (pp. 229–239)
    • Chapter 12, “An Insider’s Guide to Engaging in Policy Activities” (pp. 293–301)
Newer Use the Agenda Comparison Grid Template found in the Learning Resources and complete the Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid based on the current/sitting U.S. president and the previous president
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Older In collaboration with the approved clinical preceptor, students will identify a specific evidence-based topic for the capstone project change proposal. Students should consider the clinical environment in which

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