The Impact of Opioid Use Disorder on the Well-Being Capabilities of Texas Families

ABSTRACT The opioid epidemic in the U.S. is well-documented and continues to worsen annually. Opioid use, abuse, and overdose have become perennial problems that many families are likely to face in the future. This study aimed to explore the threats to family well-being capabilities and understand the cascading effects of these threats on Texas families concerning the global opioid crisis. It provides a realistic perspective on the opioid epidemic through the experiences of Texas families who have made critical decisions while dealing with a family member’s opioid use disorder (OUD). By utilizing the capability approach, the research examined both the security of family well-being capabilities and the ability of families to make risk-informed decisions in the face of OUD. A key contribution of this study is offering a higher degree of predictability for families who may encounter OUD in the future. Research involving families affected by OUD is crucial for informing policymakers as the United States continues to grapple with the opioid epidemic. The opioid epidemic has had a devastating impact on Texas families, compounded by the fentanyl crisis and the growing methamphetamine problem, which have introduced significant threats to the population. Public health officials and law enforcement officers consistently argue that Texas families remain a high threat, given the current state of the opioid epidemic. The short- and long-term outcomes of OUD often lead to one devastating conclusion: the death of a family member. Families dealing with OUD are highly likely to face threats to the security of their well-being capabilities.