New Policy on Opioid Use: Solving the Pro Bono Mismatch

Opioid use is a considerable nationwide problem, and a comprehensive policy is needed to resolve the issue. The process of designing such an intervention approach requires identifying the target population, decision authority, and provisions alongside procedures (Welsh & Harris, 2016). New policy on OU should be oriented toward those harmed by or selling the drug, carried out by a combination of experts, and involve a variety of elements.

The first step of designing a policy is determining the target population. Such a type of intervention should specify whom it will affect, whether by benefiting or punishing (Welsh & Harris, 2016). First, the approach will be oriented toward individuals filing lawsuits due to being damaged by manufacturers and distributors of opioids (Hoffman, 2019). Second, the policy will impact those abusing drugs and incarcerated for substance-related crimes. Third, the intervention will affect dealers providing medicines that may contain fentanyl (Hoffman, 2019). The proposed approach will target people harmed by, abusing, or trading opioids.

The second phase in policy design is identifying the decision authority. Responsibility for administering an intervention should be assigned to a unit or people based on knowledge and credibility (Welsh & Harris, 2016). First, the current approach will be carried out by purposefully designated attorneys accountable for assisting individuals damaged by opioid-associated corporations. Second, prosecutors will be obligated to determine whether someone was hurt due to taking medications received without fentanyl test strips (Hoffman, 2019). Third, the policy will be substantially implemented by a new unit created by the criminal justice (CJS) alongside healthcare systems (HS) and responsible for helping and overseeing persons abusing drugs and imprisoned for substance-related offenses. Attorneys, prosecutors, HS, and CJS, will administer distinct aspects of the intervention.

The third step of designing a policy is determining provisions. Such elements represent what will be done and delivered to the target population, such as services, sanctions, and opportunities (Welsh & Harris, 2016). People harmed by opioid manufacturers or distributors will receive the assistance of competent attorneys to increase the victims’ chances of winning lawsuits against businesses. Individual or corporate dealers will be penalized for not supplying fentanyl test strips with medications that may contain the drug. Persons abusing opioids or incarcerated for substance-related crimes will have a chance to enter a program that would help them recover from addiction and rehabilitate. The target population will be provided with services, sanctions, or opportunities depending on their involvement with OU.

The final phase of policy design is specifying its procedures. Such elements reflect steps that must be followed to carry out interventions (Welsh & Harris, 2016). HS and CJS must continuously exchange valuable data and learn from it to reduce the costs of unnecessary activities (Zajac et al., 2019). Within one month of the new policy’s approval, CJS and HS must merge forces and form a unit overseeing all processes. The nation, including the general public, corporations, and authorities, must be notified of the requirements and provisions of the intervention starting from the invention of the joint department. Every six months, all involved experts must attend training on the policy’s processes and potential improvement-oriented changes that may occur. A centralized pro bono system with ongoing information sharing and incentives must be constructed in the OU context within two years of the policy’s beginning to assist victims of opioid-related corporations (Adediran, 2020). A program for those addicted to the drug must be developed considering lessons from HS and CJS and start within six months of the integrated unit’s composition. The listed procedures concern the fundamental steps of the proposed intervention.

A plan for carrying out a policy concentrates on resources necessary for successful implementation. The intervention will depend on CJS and HS unit, which will include a head of the department, two clerks, four experts developing the program, three professionals coordinating other procedures, and policy and public relations managers. Annual salaries for the listed personnel can vary from approximately $45,250 to $123,370, and their benefits will likely comprise health and life insurance (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022; US Office of Personnel Management, n.d.). Equipment will contain a computer for each specialist, two printers, a variety of office supplies, and paper, with everything costing about $11450 at the initial purchase (“Computers and tablets,” n.d.; “Printers,” n.d.; “Office supplies,” n.d.). Annual spending on advertising may start from $1700, while office space rent and utilities may begin from approximately $13565, depending on the area (US Energy Information Administration, 2023; “Find your next office”). The listed are the mean costs for primary resources needed during the first year.

For a policy to be successful, it must be managed properly. The personnel will be trained on the intervention’s processes, like using specific intake forms, alongside improvement-oriented changes (Welsh & Harris, 2016). The staff members will have varying responsibilities, from paperwork to rehabilitation program development, and all duties will be communicated in weekly meetings overseen by the head of the HS and CJS unit. The employees will be monitored and managed based on their performance and correspondence to their accountabilities. Activities among the personnel and stakeholders will be coordinated by a policy manager and a public relations expert (Welsh & Harris, 2016). Potential conflict and resistance will be handled by avoiding unnecessary force, identifying several possible solutions, searching for common ground between parties, and conducting negotiations (Welsh & Harris, 2016). Notably, the evaluation plan for the intervention will be based on continuously collecting data about different processes and timely assessing whether goals and objectives are adequately met (Welsh & Harris, 2016). All aspects of the intervention will be addressed carefully to assure sufficient results.

To conclude, new police on controlling OU will target those harmed by or trading the drug, implemented by a team of experts, and involve various provisions and procedures. The implementation will require substantial resources, and the intervention will be evaluated by assessing its objectives and outcomes. The proposed policy will demand considerable funding alongside effort from many participants, but it is necessary to help the nation oppose the opioid problem.

References

Adediran, A. O. (2020). Solving the pro bono mismatch. University of Colorado Law Review, 91(4), 1035-1079.

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Hoffman, J. (2019). Drug giants close in on a $50 billion settlement of opioid cases. The New York Times. Web.

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Welsh, W. N., & Harris, P. W. (2016). Criminal justice policy and planning: Planned change. Routledge.

Zajac, G., Nur, S. A., Kreager, D. A., & Sterner, G. (2019). Estimated costs to the Pennsylvania criminal justice system resulting from the opioid crisis. American Journal of Managed Care, 25(13), S250-S255.