The United States Department of Health and Human Services estimates that more than 650,000 opioid prescriptions are written each day. Averaging 30 to 200 tablets apiece, that means upwards of 130 million pills are prescribed every day. In correlation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that more than three out of five drug overdose deaths involve opioids. Recognizing their tremendous threat, the surgeon general in 2016 declared the opioid abuse epidemic is a huge problem. It’s one that only dedicated physicians can bring to an end.
“Opioids are prescription medications that work on several types of pain receptors in the body and produce morphine-like effects,” he explained. “They’re only intended for severe pain. However, they’re being widely overprescribed.”
According to Dr. Shah, current opioid prescription rates equate to nearly one prescription per adult per year being written in the U.S.
“The only time I’m less concerned about opioids is when they’re prescribed for a patient facing a terminal condition like cancer,” he noted. “For end-of-life conditions, it’s about comfort care.”
Opioid use among those whose conditions aren’t terminal is where danger and damage intersect.
At the same time, pharmaceutical-based studies that weren’t thoroughly scrutinized by medical experts were reporting that opioids could be used without risk of dependence. This false belief that opioids were safe coupled with a mandate that providers assess and treat pain led to a surge in opioid prescriptions.
“General practice providers have virtually no formal education or training in pain management, yet they’re being tasked with treating pain,” Dr. Shah explained. “There are no checks and balances when you don’t train doctors in pain management while requiring them to treat pain.”
According to Dr. Shah, primary care doctors write more than 50 percent of all prescriptions for the strongest class of pain medications (schedule II opioids). Unfortunately, several other classes of non-opioid medications are often overlooked as many doctors turn to prescription opioids.
- 7 years ago
Arrowhead Health
Categories:
Pain Management Systems
Opioid Abuse Epidemic
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