CDC Hosts Live Chat on US Prescription Drug Epidemic
February 24, 2012 — Health expenses related to prescription drug overdoses cost the United States close to $70 billion a year, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
"Pain is a serious medical problem, and we believe all patients with medical needs should get the treatment they need. For carefully selected and monitored patients, painkillers can be beneficial. However, they have serious potential risks," CDC director Thomas Frieden, MD, said in a live chat session on Twitter earlier today.
He added that deaths from these drugs have reached "epidemic levels" in the past decade, and as such they should only be used "as a last resort."
Along with Len Paulozzi, MD, from the CDC's Injury Center, Dr. Frieden discussed ways to fight back against this overdose trend and what resources are currently available. They also answered questions live-tweeted by many of the 137 chat participants, which included members of the general public, clinicians, and healthcare organization representatives.
Some of the unsettling facts presented by Dr. Frieden and Dr. Paulozzi included:
In addition, Dr. Paulozzi noted that individuals with a mental illness or a history of substance abuse are at a significantly increased risk for opiate overdose.
During a discussion on ways patients can safely dispose of their unused prescription medications, Dr. Frieden suggested flushing prescription opiates and bagging other medications with bad-tasting substances, such as coffee grounds, and then throwing them out.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offers more disposal suggestions on its Web site.
Team Effort Needed
Dr. Frieden said physicians, patients, insurers, health clinics, and federal and state governments, "all have to do their part" to prevent addiction and treat it. "All need to be part of the solution."
He added that federal government can help by cracking down on irresponsible physicians, and healthcare facilities and insurers should track patients and clinicians for problems and intervene when needed.
Dr. Frieden pointed out that "the vast majority" of clinicians "want to do the right thing," and that prescription drug monitoring programs can help them to prescribe safely.
For patients, "there are many ways to manage pain working with your MD," he added. These could include physical therapy, addressing the underlying causes, and treatment with nonopioid/nonaddictive medications.
In addition, "naloxone is a promising strategy for prevention of deaths and its impact is being researched in many communities," said Dr. Paulozzi.
As reported byMedscape Medical News, naloxone was the subject of a report published in the February 17 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
However, Dr. Paulozzi noted that the FDA needs to determine whether naloxone can be offered over the counter for in-home use.
Dr. Frieden pointed out that laws are also needed to find and shut down pill mills. "That's key to saving lives and money."
"My med school professors taught that people in pain wouldn't get addicted. No! Opiates should be a last resort," he said.
"Treating severe pain is an essential role for doctors and other healthcare providers. But it can be done safely."
A transcript of the entire chat is currently posted online. A Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report written by Dr. Paulozzi and colleagues and published in January about prescription drug overdoses is posted on the CDC's Web site.
Medscape Psychiatry News is on Twitter at @MedscapePsych.
February 24, 2012 — Health expenses related to prescription drug overdoses cost the United States close to $70 billion a year, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
"Pain is a serious medical problem, and we believe all patients with medical needs should get the treatment they need. For carefully selected and monitored patients, painkillers can be beneficial. However, they have serious potential risks," CDC director Thomas Frieden, MD, said in a live chat session on Twitter earlier today.
He added that deaths from these drugs have reached "epidemic levels" in the past decade, and as such they should only be used "as a last resort."
Along with Len Paulozzi, MD, from the CDC's Injury Center, Dr. Frieden discussed ways to fight back against this overdose trend and what resources are currently available. They also answered questions live-tweeted by many of the 137 chat participants, which included members of the general public, clinicians, and healthcare organization representatives.
Some of the unsettling facts presented by Dr. Frieden and Dr. Paulozzi included:
Narcotics prescribed by physicians kill 40 people per day.
Florida has the highest rate of prescription painkiller sales per person, 3 times higher than Illinois, which is the state with the lowest rate.
Overdoses from prescription opioids are more common in non-Hispanic, middle-aged, white men and in lower-income populations.
In addition, Dr. Paulozzi noted that individuals with a mental illness or a history of substance abuse are at a significantly increased risk for opiate overdose.
During a discussion on ways patients can safely dispose of their unused prescription medications, Dr. Frieden suggested flushing prescription opiates and bagging other medications with bad-tasting substances, such as coffee grounds, and then throwing them out.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offers more disposal suggestions on its Web site.
Team Effort Needed
Dr. Frieden said physicians, patients, insurers, health clinics, and federal and state governments, "all have to do their part" to prevent addiction and treat it. "All need to be part of the solution."
He added that federal government can help by cracking down on irresponsible physicians, and healthcare facilities and insurers should track patients and clinicians for problems and intervene when needed.
Dr. Frieden pointed out that "the vast majority" of clinicians "want to do the right thing," and that prescription drug monitoring programs can help them to prescribe safely.
For patients, "there are many ways to manage pain working with your MD," he added. These could include physical therapy, addressing the underlying causes, and treatment with nonopioid/nonaddictive medications.
In addition, "naloxone is a promising strategy for prevention of deaths and its impact is being researched in many communities," said Dr. Paulozzi.
As reported byMedscape Medical News, naloxone was the subject of a report published in the February 17 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
However, Dr. Paulozzi noted that the FDA needs to determine whether naloxone can be offered over the counter for in-home use.
Dr. Frieden pointed out that laws are also needed to find and shut down pill mills. "That's key to saving lives and money."
"My med school professors taught that people in pain wouldn't get addicted. No! Opiates should be a last resort," he said.
"Treating severe pain is an essential role for doctors and other healthcare providers. But it can be done safely."
A transcript of the entire chat is currently posted online. A Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report written by Dr. Paulozzi and colleagues and published in January about prescription drug overdoses is posted on the CDC's Web site.
Medscape Psychiatry News is on Twitter at @MedscapePsych.
SHARE
RELATED POSTS on "Health & Medical"
