A solution to the opioid crisis has become somewhat elusive, as America continues to struggle to combat the crisis. One of the biggest hurdles is finding ways to manage a patient’s pain without creating a dependence on opioids. Another hurdle is how to manage or reduce prescription dosages for patients who already have a dependence on opioids. Two of the ways the healthcare system is attempting to overcome these hurdles are opioid risk assessments, the identification of patients at risk of misusing opioids or overdose, and opioid tapering plans, the gradual reduction of opioid dosages to curb withdrawal symptoms. Though these have proven effective, they are not foolproof. These practices can be made more accurate and helpful to healthcare providers through machine learning — a promising catalyst for such advancement.

Maybe for you, a solution to staying fit during quarantine has become elusive. Let’s say you found the next thing to try and stay fit: Zumba. One day, though, you trip over your coffee table during a workout and end up with a broken wrist, and you’ve never broken anything before. You find the pain to be unbearable, so, when you get to a doctor, you describe the pain as being unmatched. Consequently, you are prescribed hydrocodone, commonly known as Vicodin: a relatively potent opioid considering you have never taken opioids. You take your first dosage, and it is instant relief. Little do you know, that first pill could spell a future of opioid misuse. You take the medication, but you have work to do. The pain resurfaces, so you take another dosage before you should. _What’s the worst that could happen? _You continue to do this and go through the medication before your refill date. You choose to turn to other sources to ease your pain and get your medication, whether that be other healthcare providers or an illicit seller on the street. This doesn’t mean you are an addict, but these are signs of opioid use disorder (OUD): a physical and mental dependence on opioids.

#opioid-crisis #machine-learning #deep learning