A new poll shows an uptick in the number of Kentucky adults who report knowing someone who misuses prescription pain medications, but experts say that's likely the result of an increase in knowledge about what addiction is -- and a decrease in stigma about it, Terry DeMio reports for the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Kentucky Health Issues Poll found that the number of Kentucky adults who know someone who has experienced problems as a result of abusing prescription drugs jumped to 38 percent in 2019, up from 30% in 2018 and 24% in 2017.
Leaders in the fight against the opioid epidemic told DeMio that this uptick is likely because Kentuckians know more about addiction, not because of an increase in usage.
"We can't separate an increase in knowledge versus an increase in use" of prescription opioids in the results, Colleen Desmond, research associate with Interact for Health, told DeMio.
Interact for Health, a Cincinnati-area foundation, sponsors the poll with the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky . The latest survey was taken from Oct. 16 through Dec. 6.
Van Ingram, director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, added that "every factor" he looks at, like the number of overdose hospitalizations due to prescription drugs and related emergency-room visits, show a downtrend, DeMio reports.
A national source also agreed with Ingram, DeMio reports. "More people could be responding that they know someone with substance use disorder related to prescription pain medication because as a society, we are now more aware than ever of addiction," Robyn Oster, research associate with the Center on Addiction of New York City, said, adding that sigma has also decreased which could lead to greater disclosure.
The poll also found that 22% of Kentucky adults knew someone who has a problem with methamphetamine, and 20% knew someone who had a problem with heroin. Both of these rates did not change much from the prior year's poll.
And at 66%, the majority of Kentucky adults believe that addiction is a disease, Of those, 82% believe it is both a psychological and a physical disease, 14% believe it is a psychological disease only and 4% believe it is only a physical disease.
When asked whether they would know how to help someone with an addiction disorder find treatment, just more than half of those polled, 56%, answered yes.
"It's gratifying that Kentucky's efforts appear to be significantly reducing overdose deaths, which were down 15 percent in 2018 over the year before, but this poll tells us we're still in the midst of an addiction crisis," Ben Chandler, president and CEO of the foundation said in a news release.
"Expanding and getting the word out about treatment options, recognizing that recovery is a long-term process, and reducing the stigma associated with addiction, remain critical to continued progress."
For information on how to access addiction treatment in Kentucky, call 1-833-8KY-HELP (1-833-859-4357) or go to FindHelpNowKY.org. Both options will connect you to a specialist who will conduct a brief screening assessment and connect you to the most appropriate treatment services.
The poll surveyed a random sample of 1,559 Kentucky adults via landlines and cell phones. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.5%.
Leaders in the fight against the opioid epidemic told DeMio that this uptick is likely because Kentuckians know more about addiction, not because of an increase in usage.
"We can't separate an increase in knowledge versus an increase in use" of prescription opioids in the results, Colleen Desmond, research associate with Interact for Health, told DeMio.
Interact for Health, a Cincinnati-area foundation, sponsors the poll with the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky . The latest survey was taken from Oct. 16 through Dec. 6.
Van Ingram, director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, added that "every factor" he looks at, like the number of overdose hospitalizations due to prescription drugs and related emergency-room visits, show a downtrend, DeMio reports.
A national source also agreed with Ingram, DeMio reports. "More people could be responding that they know someone with substance use disorder related to prescription pain medication because as a society, we are now more aware than ever of addiction," Robyn Oster, research associate with the Center on Addiction of New York City, said, adding that sigma has also decreased which could lead to greater disclosure.
The poll also found that 22% of Kentucky adults knew someone who has a problem with methamphetamine, and 20% knew someone who had a problem with heroin. Both of these rates did not change much from the prior year's poll.
And at 66%, the majority of Kentucky adults believe that addiction is a disease, Of those, 82% believe it is both a psychological and a physical disease, 14% believe it is a psychological disease only and 4% believe it is only a physical disease.
When asked whether they would know how to help someone with an addiction disorder find treatment, just more than half of those polled, 56%, answered yes.
"It's gratifying that Kentucky's efforts appear to be significantly reducing overdose deaths, which were down 15 percent in 2018 over the year before, but this poll tells us we're still in the midst of an addiction crisis," Ben Chandler, president and CEO of the foundation said in a news release.
"Expanding and getting the word out about treatment options, recognizing that recovery is a long-term process, and reducing the stigma associated with addiction, remain critical to continued progress."
For information on how to access addiction treatment in Kentucky, call 1-833-8KY-HELP (1-833-859-4357) or go to FindHelpNowKY.org. Both options will connect you to a specialist who will conduct a brief screening assessment and connect you to the most appropriate treatment services.
The poll surveyed a random sample of 1,559 Kentucky adults via landlines and cell phones. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.5%.
from KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS https://ift.tt/2vBY3Dk
0 Response to "Poll finds rise in Ky. adults who misuse prescription painkillers; experts say likely stems from more reporting, not more use-HEALTHYLIVE"
Post a Comment