Opiate caused ER visits skyrocket

[Dav125]

We don't see much on a daily basis about the growing abuse problem with pain med's in this country, nor statistics on increased abuse over the years as nobody was really focusing on collecting the information up until the past few years or so..

In looking at the news a few minutes ago, CNN had an article concerning problems that are developing due to abuse of these medicines..I've copied the article below for anyone interested in seeing what the latest studies are revealing. There are quite a number of comments attached to the story if anyone is interested in some of the public's reaction as well. 66 comments last time I looked. I have included the link to the news page below the article if anyone has interest in looking at that:


Here's the article:

June 17, 2010
Opiate-caused ER visits skyrocket
Posted: 09:20 PM ET

By Val Willingham
CNN Medical Producer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the most common poisonings treated in emergency departments in the United States, are caused by misuse of opioid pain medications.  It is estimated that at least 980,000 people in the United States are currently addicted to some type of opiates.

So it's no surprise that a recent study, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found an 111 percent increase in emergency room visits involving non-medical use of prescription opioid pain relievers.

The increase happened over a five year period. Looking at statistics from 2004 to 2008, the estimated number of emergency department visits linked to non-medical use of prescription pain relievers rose from 144,644 visits to 305,885 visits a year, more than doubling the amount of cases. The study used data from SAMHSA's Drug Abuse Warning Network emergency department system, which examines emergency department visits for non-medical use of legal drugs, such as using them without a prescription.

Study authors also noted age and gender were non-factors. The dramatic rise occurred in both men and women, as well as among those younger and older than 21.

"The abuse of prescription drugs is our nation's fastest-growing drug problem." exclaims Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske.

Three prescription opioids stood out as drugs most frequently used in these emergency cases. Oxycodone (used for severe to moderate pain) incidents rose 152 percent. Hydrocodone (powerful analgesic/cough suppressant) products were up 123 percent and Methadone (strong analgesic/chronic pain) episodes rose to 73 percent. All three are medically prescribed to treat moderate to severe discomfort, but many times are used for getting high, leading many people to overdose on them.

Interestingly the numbers of emergency department visits involving non-medical use of other types of prescription pain relievers such as morphine, fentanyl and hydromorphone were lower than the prior drugs mentioned, but they also showed sharp rises during this period Investigators say these upward trends reflect in part dramatic increases in the rate at which these drugs are prescribed in the United States.

"We urgently need to take action," says CDC director Dr. Thomas Frieden.
"Emergency department visits involving non-medical use of these prescription drugs are now as common as emergency department visits for use of illicit drugs. These prescriptions medicines help many people, but we need to be sure they are used properly and safely."

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.


Here's the link to the story:

http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/17/incorrect-use-of-certain-prescription-pain-drugs-cause-more-er-visits/?hpt=Sbin

[lady67]

I was a young mother who had to have surgery for a sevely deformed nasal septum.  This was the first time in my life that I had ever taken any form of medicine stronger than tylenol.  I ended up having 3 additional surgeries for polyps and cysts in my nost and not one time did my doctor tell me there was a chance for addiction.  All he said was take one before the pain started and take until I was feeling better.  You know the rest of the story.  I had such energy and felt so much better after taking them, I thought it was okay.  Man I wished this topic would have been talked about more during that time.  

I can't blame my addiction on my doctors, but they didn't give me information about it being habit forming.  For a person who has never taken opiates or been around someone who does, they need this information from their doctors.  I was naive and paid a hefty sum for my "education" on addicting medicine.

[laurel453]

:)  i agree with every word

[Dav125]

I guess we have to remember Laurel that if a solution or an evaluation has roots in the word "common sense", you can bet money that it will be passed over for consideration by all the "experts" out there regulating the newest and greatest solutions as "they" see it.. Along with creating 10 more agency's to facilitate the fixes. You know,,job creation and all (cough)..

I sense alot of politics and monetary concerns still being the major influence in any direction taken to address the problem as it grows. I imagine pharacutical profits certainly play a major role in any movement toward what studies are needed, considered valid, and what one's are not :)

[laurel453]

interesting and yes, sad... i have also read most of the comments..

some of them from people asking to legalize the weed/marijuana saying that there is no OD from weed and almost implying it could be a substitute to opiates ( weird and crazy !! )... only a couple of them from ex addicts and most of them from pain patients...

i understand that those ER emergencies are from non pain patients... but most of them were buying the pills from the streets ? or were some of them once patients that got addicted ? i ask this because i don't think that most of the people that come to the forum are buying from the streets...

i would think that your first dealers here are the doctors, in my country the pharmacies...weird and sad.

i also agree with some comments stating that there is no real money invested on studying addiction.. and i wonder why...nah, i don't wonder why....

[LeaAnn807]

I heard something on the radio about this!  Sad!

[dominosarah]

I saw this earlier.  So so sad isnt it??