Healthy People 2020: Tracking US Health Through LHIs - Essay Sample

Introduction

Healthy people 2020 (HP2020) is an inclusive set of 10-year, national goals, and objectives for enhancing the Americans' health. It tracks the health of the country through over 1200 aims that span topic areas of the 42 distinct public (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2015). HP2020 consists of Leading Health Indicators (LHIs) which generally are objectives of Healthy People chosen in communicating health issues that are of high-priority and actions for addressing those issues. The objectives handle health determinants that enhance life quality, healthy behaviors and development of health across all life stages. Mainly, LHIs are used in exploring the country's health, facilitating alliance across sectors and inspiring action thus improving health at national state and at community levels. The paper, therefore, gives a review of the HP2020 and its leading health indicators.

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Leading Health Indicator

Substance abuse is one of the LHIs in HP2020 and involves the use of drugs, alcohol or both. Substance abuse takes a foremost toll on not only the wellbeing of people but also of families and society at large. A study carried out showed that in 2015, over 21 million Americans were scuffling with a substance abuse problem (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2015). As a result, it leads to lots of destruction including social conditions, disruption of families, problems with finances, productivity lost, school failure, violence, and crime. Research carried out showed that substance abuse has become a multifaceted public health matter as a result of communal attitudes and lawful responses to alcohol and illegal drug consumption. Substance abuse is associated with undesirable health consequences and public health issues such as suicide, cardiovascular diseases, and complications during pregnancy as well as car accidents. Due to this, there is a need for coming up with prevention programs to reduce substance abuse. One way is through health education classes which aim in achieving broader health goals of substance abuse prevention. Through health education, risks and protective factors are taken into consideration while promoting positive decision making. As a result, individuals elicit a positive response that brings long-term improvement for not only the individual but the whole community.

Vital Statistics and Census Data

Substance abuse is a major health issue in America. A study carried out showed that in 2017, there were over 19.7 million people who were battling substance use and to date, the number has been increasing (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2017). Among the adults, 74% were experiencing an alcohol disorder while 38% were in illicit drug use disorder. Annually, $740 billion of money are lost in expenses of healthcare workplace productivity and costs of crimes (People, 2015). 40% to 60% of an individual's risk of addiction is due to genetic factors while mental disorders contribute highly to teenagers. From research, men are more into illicit drugs than women but both are prone to addiction whenever they abuse those drugs. White people have a 7.7% rate of drug abuse as compared to African Americans with 6.8% and Hispanics with 6.6% (People, 2015). However, cocaine and alcohol were widely used in both individuals.

Effectiveness in State-Level Program

In meeting the HP2020 goals, the effectiveness of the state-level program is seen through innovation. Through innovation, new diagnostic treatment has made it possible for the unattainable goal though reducing drug substance abuse in the state. Through innovation, substance abuse in the state has been reduced through having new organizational methods and new approaches to targeting the groups most affected. As a result, a compelling case for a certain action in fighting substance abuse and the associated risk addiction has reduced from 60% to 20% thus meeting the HP2020 goal (People, 2015). Additionally, the technical package has been developed that focuses mostly on the feasible and sustainable interventions of substance abuse. The technical package distinguishes elements that are highly effective and scalable in reaching all populations of both adults and adolescents who are not only in substance abuse but also are at risk of them.

Evidence Through Local Programs and Funding

In my community, there is an alignment of the HP2020 goals through local programs and funding. A major local program that has shown effective outcomes is health education as it ensures people between 15-35 years of age are educated on risks associated with substance abuse (Frieden, 2015). Also, they are educated on the factors that are the likelihood of substance abuse such as environmental factors. Some of the environmental factors involve influence and peer pressure as well as poor parenting. This creates awareness among them and ensures they take all precautions necessary in combating drug use in the society. Another local program that has been initiated in the contest against drug abuse is a Society Prevention Program which enhances anti-drug norms and pro-social behaviors. The program sends a message to youths and adults in all schools, media, and all religious institutions and thus remarkably influencing the community norms. Due to this, it helps in decreasing the consequences of substance abuse. Local funding plays a big role in the community since it helps to cover treatment cost which mostly discourages people from seeking help. Major funding options that have significantly played in the society include Medicare and Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act and grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (Frieden, 2015). These funding options ensure that treatment is attainable through offering their financial support at the beginning of the recovery process of individuals in the community.

Conclusion

The goal and objective of HP2020 are to ensure there is health improvement in America. HP2020 highlights the Leading Health Indicators (LHIs) that communicate health issues of the nation and action to be taken in addressing them. Substance abuse is a major health problem that has drawn many youths and adults into illicit drugs like alcohol, cocaine, and heroin. To prevent and reduce the increasing number of substance abuse, health education is playing a key role in establishing sound values hence fostering positive change in behaviors of individuals in the community.

References

Frieden, T. R. (2014). Six components are necessary for effective public health program implementation. American journal of public health, 104(1), 17-22. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3947729/

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2017). Healthy people 2020 leading health indicators. Oral Health. https://www.healthypeople.gov/sites/default/files/LHI-ProgressReport-ExecSum_0.pdf

People, H. (2015). Healthy People 2020 leading health indicators: Progress update. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/leading-health-indicators/2020-lhi-topics/Substance-Abuse

US Department of Health and Human Services. (2015). Healthy People 2020 leading health indicators: progress update. US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Rockville, MD (Available from US GPO, Washington).