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Framing Public Health Crisis As Football Epidemic: Lexington Studies In Health

Jackson Blair

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Published in CTE Media And The NFL: Framing A Public Health Crisis As A Football Epidemic (Lexington Studies In Health Communication)

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The opioid epidemic has reached crisis proportions in the United States. In 2017, more than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses, and two-thirds of those deaths involved opioids. The epidemic has had a particularly devastating impact on rural communities, where overdose deaths are more than twice as high as in urban areas.

CTE, Media, and the NFL: Framing a Public Health Crisis as a Football Epidemic (Lexington Studies in Health Communication)

by Boy Scouts of America

5 out of 5

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In Lexington, Kentucky, the opioid epidemic has been particularly acute. In 2015, the city had the highest overdose death rate in the state. In response to the crisis, local officials and community leaders have framed the opioid epidemic as a "football epidemic." This framing has had a significant impact on public health policy and the lives of those affected by addiction.

Framing the Opioid Epidemic as a Football Epidemic

The framing of the opioid epidemic as a football epidemic has its roots in the fact that many of the people who have died from overdoses in Lexington were former football players. In 2017, a study by the University of Kentucky found that former football players were more than twice as likely to die from an overdose than non-football players.

There are a number of factors that may contribute to the increased risk of overdose among former football players. First, football players are often prescribed opioids to manage pain from injuries. This can lead to addiction, which can increase the risk of overdose.

Second, former football players may be more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as using alcohol and drugs. This can also increase the risk of overdose.

Third, former football players may be less likely to seek help for addiction. This is due to a number of factors, including the stigma associated with addiction and the fear of losing their job or their place on the team.

The Impact of the Football Epidemic Framing

The framing of the opioid epidemic as a football epidemic has had a number of significant impacts. First, it has helped to raise awareness of the crisis and the need for action.

Second, it has led to increased funding for prevention and treatment programs.

Third, it has helped to reduce the stigma associated with addiction.

However, the football epidemic framing has also had some negative consequences. First, it has led to a focus on former football players, while ignoring the many other people who are affected by the opioid epidemic.

Second, it has created a sense of panic and fear, which can make it more difficult for people to seek help for addiction.

Third, it has led to a number of policies that have been ineffective and even harmful.

The framing of the opioid epidemic as a football epidemic has had a significant impact on public health policy and the lives of those affected by addiction. While this framing has helped to raise awareness of the crisis and the need for action, it has also had some negative consequences.

It is important to remember that the opioid epidemic is a complex issue with no easy solutions. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to prevention and treatment. The best way to address the crisis is to take a comprehensive approach that includes a range of evidence-based strategies.

CTE, Media, and the NFL: Framing a Public Health Crisis as a Football Epidemic (Lexington Studies in Health Communication)

by Boy Scouts of America

5 out of 5