This isn't new news. I've read and re-read articles on this very topic for years and I have yet to see mainstream medicine, CDC, or even Big PhRMA do anything to address this other than a move to control it by and or through legislation (which really has yet to be effective).
I have yet to see a real patient-centered approach used to focus on a person's real needs for pain treatment and a very directed and proactive appraoch to this issue.
See our Natural Pain Relief information linked below or ask us about Health Forensics or customized pain relief remedies.
Painkiller overdose 'epidemic' strikes US
Kerry Sheridan AFP
November 2, 2011
Lethal overdoses from prescription painkillers have tripled in the past decade and now account for more deaths than heroin and cocaine combined, US health authorities say. The quantity of painkillers on the market is so high that it would be enough to medicate every American with a standard dose of Vicodin every four hours for one full month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "The unfortunate and in fact shocking news is that we are in the midst of an epidemic of prescription drug overdose in this country. It is an epidemic but it can be stopped," said CDC chief Thomas Frieden. "In fact, now the burden of dangerous drugs is being created more by a few irresponsible doctors than by drug pushers on street corners." The CDC Vital Signs report focused on opioid pain relievers, including oxycodone, methadone and hydrocodone, better known as Vicodin, which have quadrupled in sales to pharmacies, hospitals and doctors' offices since 1999. Last year, 12 million Americans reported taking prescription painkillers for recreational uses, not because of a medical condition. The number of deaths from overdoses of opioid pain relievers has more than tripled from 4000 people in 1999 to 14,800 people in 2008.
The epidemic is at its height among middle-aged white men and American Indians or Alaska natives, the CDC said.
I have yet to see a real patient-centered approach used to focus on a person's real needs for pain treatment and a very directed and proactive appraoch to this issue.
See our Natural Pain Relief information linked below or ask us about Health Forensics or customized pain relief remedies.
Painkiller overdose 'epidemic' strikes US
Kerry Sheridan AFP
November 2, 2011
Lethal overdoses from prescription painkillers have tripled in the past decade and now account for more deaths than heroin and cocaine combined, US health authorities say. The quantity of painkillers on the market is so high that it would be enough to medicate every American with a standard dose of Vicodin every four hours for one full month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "The unfortunate and in fact shocking news is that we are in the midst of an epidemic of prescription drug overdose in this country. It is an epidemic but it can be stopped," said CDC chief Thomas Frieden. "In fact, now the burden of dangerous drugs is being created more by a few irresponsible doctors than by drug pushers on street corners." The CDC Vital Signs report focused on opioid pain relievers, including oxycodone, methadone and hydrocodone, better known as Vicodin, which have quadrupled in sales to pharmacies, hospitals and doctors' offices since 1999. Last year, 12 million Americans reported taking prescription painkillers for recreational uses, not because of a medical condition. The number of deaths from overdoses of opioid pain relievers has more than tripled from 4000 people in 1999 to 14,800 people in 2008.
The epidemic is at its height among middle-aged white men and American Indians or Alaska natives, the CDC said.
Pain Relief Naturally
Rural and poor areas tend to have the highest prescription drug overdose death rates.
Rural and poor areas tend to have the highest prescription drug overdose death rates.
Deaths from prescription drugs made up almost 75 per cent of overdose deaths in which a drug was specified on the death certificate, the CDC said, noting that deaths and hospitalisations have increased in parallel with the boost in supply.
The sales rate of the three opioids included in the study reached 7.1 kilograms per 10,000 population last year, or the same as 710 milligrams per person in the United States.
"Enough OPR (opioid pain relievers) were prescribed last year to medicate every American adult with a standard pain treatment dose of five milligrams of hydrocodone (Vicodin and others) taken every four hours for a month," the CDC said.
Even though a relatively small portion of the US population admits abusing prescription painkillers, the costs to health insurance companies are huge, $US72.5 billion per year, according to the report.
States could do a better job of regulating the problem via drug monitoring records and insurance claims information that "can identify and address inappropriate prescribing and use by patients", the report said.
More laws targeting so-called "pill mills", which are prescribing at higher than normal rates in particularly affected states, could also cut back on the problem, it said.
"State policy can make a huge difference in either controlling or allowing this epidemic to proceed," said Frieden. "States should rigorously monitor who is prescribing and to whom."
Selections from Natural Health News
Jul 28, 2011
Hands on Healing for Pain and So Much More. Reading news
early this morning I came upon a couple of article that were of interest because
they involved energy healing. If you'd like a copy of our Reiki brochure please
...
Sep 30, 2011
Dr. Oz Raises Awareness of Pain in America! The Dr. Oz
Show interviewed top doctors this week about a familiar subject— pain. Dr. Oz
was shocked to learn what so many of us live with every day. Pain is prevalent,
finding ...
Sep 29, 2008
There are many natural options for people experiencing
pain that are as, if not more, effective that pharmaceuticals that may also
promote addiction. The key to this, however, remains making the relief of pain
tailored ...
Apr 28, 2010
To me it is interesting that news of the well known - for
a very long time - benefits of cayenne as a pain remedy reports as if no one has
ever heard of this benefit. But in case you've been in the dark on this
wonderful ...
