America is hooked on pain killers

1. America is Hooked on Pain Killers

2. Did you know that almost two million Americans are dependent on or abuse legal opioids? In 2015, 19,000 people died from fatal overdoses of legally prescribed prescription painkillers says the federal government. • However, this number is most likely understated as there are thousands of elderly people dying of prescription painkiller overdoses that are never reported as autopsies are unusual in the over 65 age group. • According to the 2014 IMS Health Statistics, there were 55 million prescriptions written for painkillers for the people over age 65 – a 20% increase over five years, which is double the growth of this age group.

3. Pain Relief at Any Cost? • At the core of this issue is the belief among physicians that patients are entitled to relief from pain, while many doctors, scientists, and researchers feel that powerful painkillers are overused for minor aches and pains that are better treated by exercise, an OTC pain relief medication, and perhaps physical therapy. • In the meantime, as painkillers become difficult to get for addicted patients they turn to the black market, where drugs are often adulterated, or switch to heroin as the cost is much less than on the street than it is for prescription painkillers.

4. What Makes Opioids So Dangerous? Meldon Kahan, a substance abuse expert, told The Week: “We have now this incredibly unusual public health crisis, that’s essentially causedby physicians.” • finally banned OTC use because of the highly addictive nature of opioids. The prescription medication was not a problem. But, that changed during the 1980s, when opioid use, which until then had been for terminal patients, and post-surgical patients, began to seep into the offices of private practice physicians and even non-profit affiliated doctors who began prescribing them for chronic pain management – a use they were never intended for.

5. Opiate Addiction Treatment • Opiate treatment has several options. Of course, the first step is dealing with withdrawal. In general, the longer a person is taking an opiate and the stronger the doses are, the more difficult withdrawal becomes. • People who try “going cold turkey” usually fail. For opiate treatment, it is best to go to a facility that allows you to reside there during the withdrawal process. Patients can be supported by trained staff who may supervise group therapy or do face-to-face therapy during the withdrawal process. • It should be noted that frequently those who abuse prescription painkillers also abuse sedatives such as barbiturates and benzodiazepine type drugs (e.g. Ativan and Xanax). Withdrawal of these drug classes must be done under medical supervision as they require weaning from rather than abrupt termination.

6. The Challenge Today The best solution to the problems inherent in opioid medications is to develop new medicines to control pain that is not addictive. This is something that researchers are working on now. Post Excerpt Did you know that almost two million Americans are dependent on or abuse legal opioids? In 2015, 19,000 people died from fatal overdoses of legally prescribed prescription painkillers. For More Info, Please Visit us at:http://hisandherhouses.com/ Or Call us at: 888-376-7268