CHANGE MY LOCATION
Health
Examiners
Mental Health Examiner
Most Recent Post
America's Economic Recession Equals Global Depression
California News
Multimedia News
Painkiller use, abuse rising nationally
SEE HOW THIS STORY DEVELOPED
Related Topics: BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - A dramatic increase in prescriptions painkiller sales could hurt those who need them most.
Sales of five leading painkillers nearly doubled from 1997 to 2005, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal drug prescription data published Monday.
At one time, compounds first derived from opium were reserved for serious illnesses such as cancer, said Dr. Paul Christo, director of the pain treatment center and pain fellowship program at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
“Over time there was a liberalization of the use of opiates to the non-cancer chronic pain sufferers,” Christo said. “We seem to fluctuate, that is the medical community, the government and the [Drug Enforcement Administration].”
More than 200,000 pounds of opioids including codeine and morphine, oxycodone were purchased at retail stores during 2005, according to DEA figures. That could result in situations where people in serious pain can’t get the medications they need, Christo said.
High-profile crackdowns like the 58-count indictment in June 2002 against seven physicians and one employee of the Comprehensive Care and Pain Management Center in Myrtle Beach, S.C., have many doctors backing away from painkillers, he said.
“Clinicians are very scared of prescribing opioids to treat pain because of regulatory oversight,” Christo said.The DEA is considering reclassifying drugs containing hydrocodone from Schedule III to Schedule II drugs. That would make it harder to obtain refills and require more stringent record-keeping in clinics and pharmacies.
The confusion is driving new curriculum on painkillers, like one being developed at Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, and driving the growth of pain treatment as a clinical specialty.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
khille@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
3:34 PM MST on Mon., Dec. 24, 2007 re: "Painkiller use, abuse rising nationally"
Report as inappropriate
Bill "Kush" Kushnerick (R) said:
The Fed. Gov. has in a rush to HELP us hurt us Chronic Pain Sufferers. Because of a few Doctors prescribing alot of certain pain meds. to people I now believe needed them, we all (the majority) have to sit home and suffer. Doctors are scared to death of the Fed. Gov. Well, mabe this is really all about money, or not enough made by a few Doctors. Now, you have pain clinics and they're no help to all. People are kicked out for many reasons, lack of preferred Ins. finding THC in your system, and more. If a human being has proof that there is a need for pain meds. then WHY aren't they getting them? Addiction? well I find that many people don't suffer with withdrawl, they get a little nervous, What? Science should look into this. More than 15% in MD. suffer with chronic pain from many forms. You don't believe me, ask a pain sufferer. People who commette suicide while on pain meds. may be doing so cause the pain is that bad, some need life time care on meds. Do you know a pain sufferer?
10 agree | 8 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree