Summary of the Article

In the article titled “Many people keep taking prescription opioids during addiction treatment” by Bernstein (2017), talks about the effects of Opioid addiction, and how challenging it is to recover from an overdose.  People who undergo treatment always experience a relapse.  In the article, researchers provide reasons why it is difficult to treat the addiction. It is argued that approximately 43% people who are treated using buprenorphine, sought for opioids prescription.  The article also explores the average days that patients take to heal from addiction.  However, a high percentage of patients who stop taking the anti-addition medication, relapse and fill for opioids prescriptions. Another issue of concern is the quality of care that the patients receive. However, other factors contribute to the relapse, and these include poor communication and inefficiency. The care given to the patients is also fragmented, and this interferes with access and quality of the medication provided. Additionally, a high percentage of the addicts can easily manipulate the system, and this makes it challenging to handle the situation. The author further argues that high percentage of doctors is not registered with the relevant authorities. Therefore, to successfully tackle the drug abuse issue, it is important to involve all the stakeholders involved, and the fight should not be left in the hands of patients alone.

The Bernstein (2017) also uses statistics to prove the prevalence of drug abuse in the U.S, and how it is challenging to treat. However, the quality of the medication offered is in doubt.

The style that Bernstein (2017), uses to argue the case is not authoritative but rather persuasive. In developing the argument, the article uses a tone that is appropriate to the purpose and the audience. The article’s tone is objective on the subject of using anti-addiction drugs and how they have failed to treat the addicts.  There is the use of simple, short or long intricate sentences. The author varies the sentence lengths, and this makes the argument stronger.

Logos are the persuasion tools that assist the writer in making the entire argument appealing to the audience. The article has elements of logical appeal. Bernstein (2017) uses credible evidence to support his argument. There is the use of facts. For example, the author draws from credible statistics, which include examining records in 11 states. Additionally, previous studies on the same are cited throughout the argument. The statistics are valuable because the information provided is not debatable. There is the use of examples, which include circumstances and events that the readers can easily relate to. For example, the author uses Patrick Curatola, a recovering addict who has lost his brother to a drug overdose in 2015. This makes it easy for the audience to relate to the devastating effects of drug addiction and the efficiency of the anti-addiction treatments. There is the use of authority to support the argument. Citing a study conducted by Johns Hopkins University, which is an authoritative body, further proves that treating addiction is still challenging and more research should be conducted.  There is the use of deductive reasoning. The author picks evidence about the efficiency of anti-addiction treatment to conclude on the topic.

Apart from the logos, the author introduces pathos to build the argument. Audiences do have emotions, and it is important for the writer to engage them emotionally. Using emotions together with logos result into a strong argument. In the article, the author uses words that carry the right connotations, and this arouses the audience’s emotions. For example, words such as anti-addiction treatments are used to pass the message on the effectiveness of the drugs. Additionally, there is the word, medication-assisted treatment, which portrays the seriousness of the problem. The use of questions always makes the argument appealing to the audience. This is because the questions make the readers curious and think logically about the subject matter. However, the author uses statement questions. There is also the use of the direct statement. For example, “inefficiency and poor communication are to blame…, said Alexander’’ (Bernstein, 2017).  This further creates credibility and proves that the system can be easily manipulated.

The argument is also supported and well build using ethos. The author convinces the audience on the credibility and character to persuade. Drawing from the study conducted by the Hopkins University researchers makes the audience to trust the information because the body has the authority and is a credible research body. Therefore, the article manages to convince its audience that it is challenging to treat drug addiction because of a high possibility of relapse. He also uses Caleb Alexander, and clearly states that he is the director of a credible research body-Center for Drug Safety and Effectiveness (Bernstein, 2017). This makes the readers not to question the credibility of the findings.

In conclusion, it is evident that the argument is persuasive and argues that it is challenging to treat drug addictions. Some of the pointed challenges include quality of the care provided, uncommitted doctors and inefficiency of the treatment. Therefore, the fight against to drug addiction should not be left to the patients only but to all stakeholders.

References

Bernstein, L. (2017). Many people keep taking prescription opioids during addiction treatment. The Washington Post. February 23, 2017. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/02/23/many-people-keep-taking-prescription-opioids-during-addiction-treatment/

 
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