Painkiller Overdose Death Rate Triples In Ten Years, USA
Editor's ChoiceMain Category: Pain / Anesthetics
Also Included In: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs; Public Health
Article Date: 01 Nov 2011 - 17:00 PDT
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opinions'Painkiller Overdose Death Rate Triples In Ten Years, USA'
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More Americans die annually from prescription painkiller overdoses than the combined total for cocaine and heroin, according to a new CDC Vital Signs report released today. Narcotic painkillers, such as Opana (oxymorphone), OxyContin (oxycodone), methadone, and Vicodin (hydrocodone) are killing over 40 people in the USA every day due to overdose. CDC Director Thomas Frieden, M.D., M.P.H, said:
"Overdoses involving prescription painkillers are at epidemic levels and now kill more Americans than heroin and cocaine combined. States, health insurers, health care providers and individuals have critical roles to play in the national effort to stop this epidemic of overdoses while we protect patients who need prescriptions to control pain."
A significant proportion of deaths are from people who obtain prescription painkillers without a prescription. The aim being to experience the "high" these medications can give. In other words, using prescription painkillers for recreational use.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, USA, informs that in 2010 approximately 1 in every 20 individuals over the age of 12 years said they used prescription painkillers for non-medical reasons (recreationally) - a total of 12 million people. The DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) says that sales of such medications to health care providers and pharmacies have gone up by over 300% during the last twelve years.
Rates of prescription painkiller sales, deaths and substance abuse treatment admissions (1999-2010)
Source: "Prescription Painkiller Overdoses in the US"
Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy, said:
"Prescription drug abuse is a silent epidemic that is stealing thousands of lives and tearing apart communities and families across America. From day one, we have been laser-focused on this crisis by taking a comprehensive public health and public safety approach.
All of us have a role to play. Health care providers and patients should be educated on the risks of prescription painkillers. And parents and grandparents can take time today to properly dispose of any unneeded or expired medications from the home and to talk to their kids about the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs."
The Obama Administration launched an action plan - Epidemic: Responding to America's Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis - in April this year to tackle "the national prescription drug abuse epidemic". Authorities say they aim to reduce "this public health burden".
State-based monitoring programs will be expanded under this plan. Unused medicatios will be disposed of more easily and in a more environmentally friendly way, authorities say. There will also be education for healthcare providers and their patients, as well as stronger support for law enforcement agencies.
State-based monitoring programs are already underway in 48 states with the aim to stop these prescription painkillers being diverted, while at the same time respecting patients' privacy. The DoJ (Department of Justice) has already closed in on several "pill mills".
A Pill Mill is a clinic, doctor's office, or health care facility that routinely conspires in the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances outside of the prevailing standards of medical practice in the community, or violates the laws of the state regarding the prescribing or dispensing of controlled prescription drugs. Put more simply and crudely - a pill mill is a place where people can easily obtain prescription medications for money, whether they need them or not.
Death rates by state from drug overdoses, per 100,000 people (2008)
Source: "Prescription Painkiller Overdoses in the US"
The Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act, which was signed into law by President Obama, allows local communities and states to collect and safely get rid of unwanted prescription medications. Over the past year the DEA has collected and disposed of more than 300 tons of unwanted drugs.
Pamela Hyde, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Administrator, said:
"Almost 5,500 people start to misuse prescription painkillers every day. Just like other public health epidemics, community-based prevention can be a proven, life-saving and cost-effective key to breaking the trend and restoring health and well-being."
Below are some highlighted data from the report:
- Death rates from prescription painkillers are three times higher among non-Hispanic whites than for African-Americans and Hispanic whites
- Death rates among Alaskan Natives and American Indians are about the same as they are for non-Hispanic whites
- The highest death rates are among people aged between 35 and 54 years
- 830,652 years of potential life before the age of 65 were lost in one year because of prescription painkiller overdoses
- Overdoses from prescription painkillers destroy a similar number of years of potential life lost to those from road accidents, and significantly more that those lost due to homicide
- According to 2008 data, death rates from prescription medication overdoses range from a low of 5.5. per 100,000 individuals in Nebraska to 27 per 100,000 in New Mexico
- 1 in every 12 people aged at least 12 years use prescription painkillers recreationally in Oklahoma, the highest rate in the USA. Nebraska has the lowest rate at 1 in every 30 people.
- Sales of prescription painkillers per head in Florida (highest state) are three times higher than Illinois (lowest state). The higher the sales per person the higher that state's drug overdose death rate tends to be
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Visitor Opinions (latest shown first)
I Know How You Feel BROKEN...
posted by mrssheppard on 25 May 2012 at 4:33 amBroken, I have had herniated discs in my neck since 1999. The pain was excruciating at times. I was prescribed Norco 10/325 and had taken it for years. I developed a such a tolerance to it, that I could take enough to kill a cow and they no longer had any affect on me. After years of self medicating, I went to a pain management clinic and was put on Oxy. I unfortunately found that the same thing would happen. I wouldn't say I was "addicted" mentally, but there was a physical side to taking the narcotics that I didn't understand.
Our bodies make their own narcotics, in a way, to naturally fight pain. Some people, like me, have a screwed up gene somewhere that doesn't produce enough of this natural pain relief so when I wasn't taking the medication I felt horrible. Those days were when I wanted to die. I felt I was dying.
When I finally found the right pain management doctor, he was actually certified in addictions. It was finally explained to me that my own body was defective and missing the gene for relieving pain to a certain point myself. Thanks to a friend, I tried Subutex when I had no more narcotics and was going to get into real trouble. I didn't want to live worrying about how many pills I had, where I was going to get more, who's house I could raid to find some more and yes, the ER labled me a pill popper - even though I had physical, diagnosed conditions that causes excrutiating pain. That day was February 16 2010 and it changed my life.
I have been on Subutex, until this year when my doctor changed it to Suboxone, and have not once, ever thought about taking narcotics again. It is my miracle pill ( sublingual film strip). My miracle in a bottle. It is different than a pain pill, because it works on the messed up gene and fills my receptors with a continuous amount of medicine to trick my brain into thinking it's full. I never, ever think about taking a pill anymore. I take tylenol and am content with it. There is some pain relieving qualities of Suboxone, but the phsycological affects on me, I never think about Norco or Oxy.
If you could find a doctor who prescribes Suboxone, go to them. I got tired of being labled as a drug seeker. Unfortunately I have had injuries since beginning this medicine requiring me to go to the ER, and most of the doctors there when they hear what I take, still treat me like a drug seeker. They don't understand that if I need a pain reliever at that time, it has to be double the strength they would normally give someone, because of the agonist affect in the medicine. I give them my doctors number and they verify, but sometimes doctors are just a-holes. They might have an education in medicine, but totally lost compassion for people while they were in school. Their bedside manner sucks, to say it mildly.
I know I will have to deal with this all my life, but my lifesaver is the medicine now. I don't want to die anymore.
degenerative disc disease
posted by boniferous on 22 May 2012 at 12:27 pmMy doctor is afraid to treat me. Another doctor outside the network diagnosed me with degenerative disc disease. It is so bad I worry I will be paralyzed soon. But, then, the pain would be gone so that is good. Sometimes I wonder how I can make myself paralyzed to end it. Anyway, he's taking me off the pain meds, diagnosed me with fibromyalgia and given me those pills instead. I have enough of them left to kill myself. I cannot find another doctor with the cahones to treat me humanely and help ease my suffering. There are not enough drugs to end the pain, trust me. Had 4 kids. At least child birth came with "breaks" in between labor pains... seriously this is wicked shit and right now I wish I were a drug addict so I could help myself survive. So, probably, there will be another on the ticket but I am damned well not going out without a big bang and a bunch of law suits against some serious losers who call themselves doctors.
No Way To Live - I've lived with chronic pain for 41 years. I want to die today
posted by broken on 21 Apr 2012 at 6:34 amI've lived with chronic pain for 41 years. I want to die today. I have 1 methadone, 1 percocet, 4 flexeril & no doctor. I think my lumbar & sacral discs are screwed & I can't walk. I live in Florida, so I can't go to the ER without being treated like a junkie. I've thought about driving into a tree or off a bridge. I've thought about flinging myself off a building. What stops me is the fear I will live through it & then no one will treat me since I have a history of chronic pain. I don't Dr shop. Hell, I haven't had a Dr physically touch me in over 5 years. That's when I lost my insurance & became profiled as a pill seeker.
I can't live like this & no one cares, that is, if you don't have insurance. I work full time. I cannot afford to pay a Dr who MAY or MAY NOT give me meds. So. I depend on friends to give me left over pills so I can keep working. I sit here, waiting for the postman, hoping a care pack will arrive today...from a friend who said they mailed it last week.
This is no way to live.
Stats For Pain Killers?
posted by Adolfo Pegalle on 4 Nov 2011 at 10:57 amTypical Politician Bureaucracy. What the real issue is ALL THE NEW MEDICATIONS which are not pulling in the billions projected. Guess what? These now also work for everything else! All patents have expired. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the elderly are dying? Compare the death stats side by side with alcohol and cigarettes. LEGALIZE MARIJUANA if they are so concerned. Pam is a puppet keeping her job.
Honestly
posted by Boyd on 4 Nov 2011 at 5:27 amI guess for the average American who takes a Advil for any head AKE and if they pull a simple muscle they are begging for something more than just Advil from a doctor it would be a epidemic but the truth is in the civil war if your got shot you would live or die not pain meds just liquor. So now why does everyone need pain meds??? In Africa civilians are having there limbs cut off and living through that with no pain meds at all. My wife just had a C section She told them when she went home she wanted No NO NO pain medication SO when we leave she realizes that the doctor gave her a prescription for OXY and Ibuprofen.
How do you go from I want NOTHING to well hear is 2.. Now they can call in medication easy as can be But whats easier than giving a person MORE than enough medication. So I honestly believe we all should grow up and take the pain.. I mean How long have there bin humans And then how long has there bin OXY. Aside the overdoses ppl get hooked everyday. 20 year old twists his arm playing tennis Leaves the doctors office and has no clue he is about to be in rehab, what a joke. I believe the proff is in the medication itself. The government has Wasted Millions of OUR dollars campaigning how alcohol is destroying livers hart failure is on the rise. Pills are worse. You know its bad when even Newt Gingrich has to jump in to the pill loving fad.
The Suicide Rate May Increase Between The Ages You Specified Because Our Bodies Don't Keep Up With Our Mental Capacity
posted by SeniorMoment on 4 Nov 2011 at 2:58 amI am guessing that the following may contribute to an elevated suicide rate in the age range you gave because:
1) Our bodies are more likely in that age range to start failing in not repairable ways;
2) Mid-life realiztion sets in that if we haven't kept on track with our career goals by then we probably never will achieve them;
3) The probablility of a temporary disability lasting longer than six months sharply increases; and
4) We realize we haven't saved as much as necessary to guarantee a comfortable retirement.
Back Pain And Why Oregon Give Superior Pain Care
posted by SeniorMoment on 4 Nov 2011 at 2:42 amTo the best of my knowledge, Oregon is (or was) the only state that discplines doctors against their medical license for failing to provide sufficient pain relief. That provision was passed as part of the Oregon Assisted Suicide Law, which has had little impact on the state's suicide rate because any depression must be treated first and more than one doctor must certify the person qualifies.
Nevertheless the debate about Assisted Suicide in Oregon resulted in extensive discussions about the reasons people commit suicide and laws to reduce those reasons. For a detailed discussion of Oregon suicides see: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/news/2010news/2010-0909a.pdf?ga=t
Note that the States of Washington and Oregon in 2007 ranked 35th and 37th nationally in serious depression and suicide.
In the Pacific Northwest suidide rates later increased, especially among young adults, but that is largely due to Washington and Oregon getting among the highest unemployment rates during the Great Recession and having sharp declines in home prices with sharp increases in foreclosures.
Suicide rates go up and down in states and the nation. They increase in bad economic timescondidtions and down as the economy improves.
As to your specific back pain the first thing I would have done is investigate how good the surgeon was. Every pain has a cause and all too often a surgery or presciption medicine is the cause. In my own case I had recurrent back pain for something like 30 years but sought no surgery for it. I finally came across an osteopath who recognized my back pain problem was actually due to a lack of hip mobility, so physical therapy for that cleared it up for good even though I have more severe degeneration between threediscs in the lower spine and they happened without pain. I even have a pain free flattened spinal cord. There is a lot of variability among patients with respect to causes and severity of back pains. At the least your doctor should have prescribed after each surgery 3 days of Vicotin or Hydrocodone, or at least Tramadol, a milder pain medicine. (My own worst pain that lasted longer than ten minutes came from a breathing tube left in place after major surgery.) I begged continuously on a alste in Colorado for a better and very specific pain medicine before a doctor consented. In contrast the other very invasive chest surgery pain didn't bother me--just the breathing tube that hurts most people less.
Doctors have narcotics screening tests for blood and urine that can tell if you are using a narcotic pain medication as prescribed or not,, so only ignorance or laziness are barriers to doctors prescribing narcotics and even some lesser regulated pain drugs for pain.
One big problem with back surgeries and treatments for back pain like burning the appropriate nerves is that they are not durable, but for some people even simple lidocain (or a long lasting varient) shots on each side of the missing cartilege can cure the pain or resolved it for three months at a tie. Scarring though can even block needles getting in the right area.
I am not a doctor, but I and long term pain management patient and I know two people with back pain yet sharply different outcomes from treatments. The Hip mobilization physical therapy ended all back pain for me, so that hasn't been a problem for years. I, like everyone over 40, have osteoarthritis, also known as wear and tear arthritis.
Death rate is highest among people aged 35 - 54
posted by Tom on 1 Nov 2011 at 6:36 pmIf the death rate is so high among people 35 - 54, why does this come off as a "think of the children" law? Is the war on drugs to be expanded into the war on doctors & physicians?
Big Brother
posted by Sam on 1 Nov 2011 at 6:21 pmWe don't need government making our decisions about health care. I endured 3 years of back pain due to 3 bulging discs because doctors are afraid to write prescriptions for pain meds. I've had very very painful medical procedures for which they prescribe only Ibuprofen. The medical community cowers before government regulators. The mindless sheep masses think government bureaucrats should control every event in their lives. Government get the F out of our lives. People, have some guts and make your own decisions about your health and well-being and even about what you do recreationally. It's none of the government's business.
Why chronic pain sufferers commit suicide by narcotics
posted by SeniorMoment on 1 Nov 2011 at 5:47 pmIt is not easy to live with constant pain, and insurance companies as well as many well meaning doctors prefer the use of narcotics in treating chronic pain because they are cheap and the doctors are generally ignorant of alternative medicines and treatments for managing chronic pain.
For these reasons and the frequencies of depression among chronic pain sufferers, I believe most overdoses in this group are actually suicide attempts. I have used narcotic pain medications up to 50 mcg/hr Fentanyl and never even experienced any change in mood that the term "high" suggests. The reason I do my best to live without narcotics though is that the burdens associated with getting monthly hand written prescriptions defeats my most effective pain fighting strategy is to always forget yesterday's pain and to experience each day as isolated pain events.
At the same time if I ever give in to an urge to commit suicide I have enough of various kinds of prescription medications around the house to easily to it in an irreversible way. Early in my 20+ years of chronic pain I very actively considered suicide because the source of my pain prohibited doing any of the activities I had long planned to do in retirement. The urge only died down when a set of re-surgeries lessened my pain level.
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