Structural Determinism Amplifying the Opioid Crisis: It's the Healthcare, Stupid

Abstract

The article paints a picture of a healthcare system that not only has been slow to deliver appropriate treatments but also stands as a structural determinant of this crisis. Structural determinants create barriers that stop or slow the remediation of social determinants while perpetuating others. This paper argues that the healthcare system has failed those struggling with OUD and co-morbidities and is itself a structural determinant that creates barriers to effective behavioral health services.