NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 2 Applying Research Skills

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4000 Developing a Nursing Perspective

Prof. Name

Date

Applying Research Skills

The opioid epidemic, driven by the widespread misuse and dependency on opioids, represents an escalating global health emergency. This issue poses a significant hazard to public well-being and demands immediate attention (Au et al., 2021). This paper employs research practices to identify credible, evidence-based sources. It presents an annotated bibliography that highlights the scope of the opioid epidemic in modern healthcare and possible interventions. 

Overview of the Healthcare Issue

Opioid misuse is a serious healthcare problem because when individuals become dependent on opioids, treatment and recovery become challenging. This crisis leads to longer hospital stays and higher healthcare costs. Opioid-related problems are concerning in healthcare settings, as they can result in severe outcomes for vulnerable patients. In response to the growing crisis, strategies such as Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs, opioid misuse anticipation measures and public education have gained importance (Baker & Patek, 2021).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 109,000 persons died from opioid misuse in 2022, with around 82,000 of those demises involving opioids. It accounts for about 77% (CDC, 2024). Healthcare experts, particularly nurses, are crucial in educating patients, adhering to safe prescribing and supporting responsible opioid use and addiction recovery.

Personal and Professional Relevance to the Healthcare Issue

As a nurse, I have personally witnessed the impact of opioid misuse in the healthcare setting where I work. I have seen cases where patients struggling with opioid addiction experienced complications due to poorly managed withdrawal symptoms. A lack of psychosocial support worsens it. This issue is highly relevant because it affects patient outcomes, care coordination protocols and care quality. Promoting addiction recovery, educating patients about the risks of opioid misuse, and preventing overdose are essential roles for nurses. Professionally, this issue demands that I remain up to date with evidence-based guidelines for pain management and substance use interventions. Collaboration among specialists is vital to safeguard responsible opioid use. It improves addiction support and protects patient safety during the opioid crisis.

Selection of Academic Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Systematically applying library research skills, I recognized suitable journal articles related to the opioid crisis. The keywords used were “opioid crisis,” “addiction treatment,” “opioid misuse,” “overdose prevention,” and “substance abuse in healthcare.” Research was conducted using reputable databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. It offers access to quality academic sources. Scholarly papers published in the latter five years were selected. It focuses on evidence about the causes, impacts, and interventions related to opioid misuse. The evidence gathered enhanced understanding of opioid misuse. It emphasized the significance of addiction treatment services and prescription monitoring and highlighted strategies to prevent opioid misuse. These sources provided valuable insights to support evidence-based interventions aimed at addressing opioid addiction in clinical practice.

Assessing the Credibility and Relevance of Sources

The selected sources were assessed for credibility using the CRAAP criteria: Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose (Muis et al., 2022). Only current publications from 2021 to 2025 were included to guarantee currency. The peer-reviewed journal articles chosen were pertinent to the opioid crisis. It focuses on addiction treatment, overdose prevention and public health impacts. The authority of each source was verified by checking the authors’ identifications and affiliations with standard institutions. Evidence-based data, credible references, and peer-reviewed endorsements supported the accuracy of the content. To maintain fairness, each source’s purpose was assessed to confirm it was unbiased, research-based data. Based on this evaluation, all selected sources were reliable for research on the opioid epidemic.

Annotated Bibliography

Au, V. Y. O., Rosic, T., Sanger, N., Hillmer, A., Chawar, C., Worster, A., Marsh, D. C., Thabane, L., & Samaan, Z. (2021). Factors associated with opioid overdose during medication-assisted treatment: How can we identify individuals at risk? Harm Reduction Journal, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-021-00521-4

This paper discusses the critical issue of opioid overdose risk among individuals receiving MAT for opioid use disorder (OUD). Key features related to increased overdose risk comprised earlier age, shorter duration in care, greater corporeal symptom burden, and non-prescription benzodiazepine use. The study emphasizes that a shorter duration enrolled in MAT is associated with recent excessive dose events. It suggests that sustained retention in treatment offers protective benefits. MAT is proven to reduce opioid-related mortality. The article highlights the heightened overdose risk during the initial phases of treatment, particularly due to reduced opioid tolerance.

Healthcare organizations can reduce overdose events by improving naloxone access and addressing the integration of mental health and substance use care. This article is useful to healthcare providers, policymakers, and researchers working to mitigate the opioid crisis. It is a valuable resource for understanding the factors influencing overdose risk in MAT populations. It offers approaches for improving patient outcomes by focusing on retention, naloxone access and comprehensive care.

NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 2 Applying Research Skills

Biancuzzi, H., Dal Mas, F., Brescia, V., Campostrini, S., Cascella, M., Cuomo, A., Cobianchi, L., Gallastegi, A., Gebran, A., Kaafarani, H. M., Marinangeli, F., Massaro, M., Renne, A., Scaioli, G., Bednarova, R., Vittori, A., & Miceli, L. (2022). Opioid misuse: A review of the main issues, challenges, and strategies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(18), 11754. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811754

This resource examines the opioid prevalent in the U.S, where nearly 500,000 demises occurred between 1999 and 2019 due to opioid overdoses, both prescribed and illicitly acquired. The paper defines the epidemic as unfolding in three distinct waves: the first with prescription opioids, the second with heroin, and the third with illicit artificial opioids like fentanyl. The study emphasizes the role of overprescription and increasing accessibility of opioids among younger populations (ages 25-35). It has contributed to rising misuse. Healthcare organizations can reduce opioid misuse by executing prescription monitoring programs, improving education on the risks of abuse and identifying at-risk patients early.

NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 2

This article is useful to providers, offering key insights into the balance between pain care and preventing opioid misuse. It is a valuable resource for those combating the epidemic, as it calls for enhanced training for experts, collaboration and stricter monitoring of prescriptions. The article highlights the importance of prevention strategies aimed at educating the general population, especially adolescents, about the risks of opioid misuse to prevent the escalation of the crisis. 

Fishbein, D. H., & Sloboda, Z. (2022). A national strategy for preventing substance and opioid use disorders through evidence-based prevention programming that fosters healthy outcomes in our youth. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 26(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-022-00420-5

This paper reviews the constant opioid epidemic in the U.S. It underlines the devastating impact of opioid overdoses, particularly during the COVID-19 epidemic, and substance use illnesses that affect families and communities. The article expresses how deterrence proposals solutions to mitigate the crisis. It emphasizes that investing in primary prevention could reduce OUD and other substance-related problems. Prevention strategies target conditions that increase the risk for SUDs, such as adverse childhood experiences, poverty, and lack of community support. Factors that promote resilience include healthy family environments and community-based programs. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating prevention efforts into a comprehensive public health system.

NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 2 Applying Research Skills

Healthcare organizations can lessen the incidence of substance misuse and behavioral problems by adopting evidence-based programs like the Incredible Years, Triple P, and Botvin Life Skills Training. Moreover, community-wide strategies such as the Community HUB model and PROSPER have proven beneficial in improving health outcomes and reducing SUDs. This article is useful to public nurses and policymakers as it advocates for a national strategy with strong public health policies and continuous quality improvement efforts. It is a valuable resource for sustainable funding streams for prevention programs, developing a diagnosis and appointment structure in health and better coordination among various service providers. 

Summary of the Learnings

Through the development of this annotated bibliography, an inclusive empathy for the intricate nature of opioid misuse and addiction. It highlights the urgent need for global intervention. Analyzing and reviewing peer-reviewed literature revealed the multifaceted factors driving the opioid epidemic. Au et al. (2021), provide insights into features linked with increased overdose risk during MAT. It helps healthcare providers identify high-risk individuals and improve patient retention strategies. Moreover, Biancuzzi et al. (2022) emphasize the importance of prescription monitoring, education, and early identification of at-risk populations. It offers practical solutions to reduce opioid misuse. MAT and addiction services are critical in slowing the spread of opioid addiction and enhancing longstanding recovery outcomes for persons with OUD.

Fishbein & Sloboda (2022) advocate for primary prevention strategies, such as community-based programs, to reduce opioid use disorder and other substance-related issues.  This process enables the ability to assess scholarly sources critically. Using the CRAAP criteria, key findings from multiple studies were synthesized to recognize research trends and develop a well-informed discussion on the opioid epidemic. The annotated bibliography process enhances the ability to evaluate and integrate research on opioid misuse and addiction critically. It supports the development of evidence-based strategies for future assessments aimed at addressing the opioid crisis and improving recovery outcomes.

References

Au, V. Y. O., Rosic, T., Sanger, N., Hillmer, A., Chawar, C., Worster, A., Marsh, D. C., Thabane, L., & Samaan, Z. (2021). Factors associated with opioid overdose during medication-assisted treatment: How can we identify individuals at risk? Harm Reduction Journal, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-021-00521-4

Baker, A., & Patek, J. (2021). A comparison of medication-assisted treatment options for opioid addiction. Journal of Addictions Nursing, 34(4), e189–e194. https://doi.org/10.1097/jan.0000000000000392

Biancuzzi, H., Dal Mas, F., Brescia, V., Campostrini, S., Cascella, M., Cuomo, A., Cobianchi, L., Gallastegi, A., Gebran, A., Kaafarani, H. M., Marinangeli, F., Massaro, M., Renne, A., Scaioli, G., Bednarova, R., Vittori, A., & Miceli, L. (2022). Opioid misuse: A review of the main issues, challenges, and strategies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(18), 11754. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811754

NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 2 Applying Research Skills

Fishbein, D. H., & Sloboda, Z. (2022). A national strategy for preventing substance and opioid use disorders through evidence-based prevention programming that fosters healthy outcomes in our youth. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 26(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-022-00420-5

Muis, K. R., Denton, C., & Dubé, A. (2022). Identifying CRAAP on the internet: A source evaluation intervention. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 9(7), 239–265. http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.97.12670