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Posts Tagged ‘pain management’

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I’ve Become Drug Dependant at 45 – Prescription Drugs

Friday, November 5th, 2010

A new report finds that hospital admissions for Americans over 45 for medication and drug-related conditions has doubled between 1997 and 2008. The report, from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, included the consequences of both illicit and prescription drugs.

The increase was driven by a growth in hospital discharges for drug-induced delirium, “poisoning” or overdose by codeine, meperidine and other opiates, and drug withdrawal. Admissions increased by 117 percent for the 45-64 year old demographic between 1997 and 2008. The rate of admissions for those 65-84 years of age closely followed with a 96 percent growth. By comparison, the number of hospital admission among adults between the ages of 18 and 44 decreased by 11 percent.

“This report reveals a disturbing trend, and we need to find out more about why these admissions are increasing,” said Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Director Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D. “As the average age of hospital patients continues to increase, so does the need for close monitoring of the types and dosage of drugs given to them.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Guns and Prescription Pain Medications Don’t Mix

Monday, November 1st, 2010

A well-known member of the South Florida pain clinic industry was indicted this week on federal gun charges. Chris George, 29, is already the center of a separate drug trafficking investigation, and was charged last week with firearm and ammunition possession despite having a previous felony conviction. In 2002, George was convicted of felony drug possession.

George is accused of possession of a handgun, two shotguns and more than 100 rounds of ammunition. The indictment does not mention of the federal drug investigation, but law enforcement officials discovered the guns in March during a rain of George’s pain clinic, American Pain in Lake Worth, and of his properties in Wellington.

George pleaded not guilty and his attorney vowed to vigorously defend his client against the charges. Prior to the raids, George and his twin brother, Jeff, ran some of the most aggressive and lucrative pain clinics in Palm Beach County and Broward County. The clinics were popular with addicts and dealers from outside Florida and were a cash business. The clinics generated $50,000 in revenue in a single day.

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70% of People Claim They Abuse Pain Pills Family Provides

Friday, October 29th, 2010

The American College of Emergency Physicians is sponsoring the national American Medicine Chest Challenge. At the same time, the group is educating the public about the safe disposal of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. This, in turn, will hopefully reduce the likelihood that children and teenagers will abuse the drugs. Seventy percent of people who abuse prescription painkillers said they got their supply from friends or relatives. A recent survey indicates that one in nine children are abusing prescription pain medications.

“Emergency physicians see firsthand the dangers of prescription drug abuse, which is why we recommend that everyone take stock of the medicines in their homes,” said American College of Emergency Physicians president, Sandra Schneider, M.D., FACEP. “Prescription drugs are the most abused drugs in America other than marijuana, and parents are the first line of defense between kids and the prescription medications. If you don’t need the medicines in your medicine chest, then your kids don’t need them either.”

The American Medicine Chest Challenge will take place on November 13 across the country.　

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Campaigns to Fight Prescription Drug Abuse Epidemic

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

A new nationwide campaign hopes to help fight the epidemic of prescription drug abuse. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, the American College of Emergency Physicians, poison control centers, and law enforcement agencies are sponsoring the “American Medicine Chest Challenge” on Nov. 13. The day asks Americans to rid their medicine cabinets of old prescription drugs and make certain the prescriptions that are current are locked up.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse believes that a campaign like this one is critical because 70 percent of those who abuse prescription pain medications say they got their support from someone they know. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that more than 9 million people use prescription drugs for non-medical reasons. Seven of the top 11 drugs most often abused by high school seniors are either prescribed or purchased over the counter.

“Prescriptions can be very toxic if used in any way other than as prescribed,” said Dr. Steven Marcus, executive medical director of the New Jersey Poison Information & Education System. “Inadvertently, homes are havens for drug abuse due to the increasing number of controlled prescription medications on hand in the average home.”

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“Take-Back” Day Netted More Than 121 Tons of Unuesed and Unwanted Drugs

Friday, October 15th, 2010

The “Take-Back” day was a step in the right direction in stemming the tide of prescription drug abuse. The Sept. 25 nationwide event netted more than 121 tons of unused and unwanted drugs. The event was organized by the Drug Enforcement Administration and offered people a safe, free way of ridding their homes of potentially dangerous prescription medications.

“The Take-Back Campaign was a stunning nationwide success that cleaned out more than 121 tons of pills from America’s medicine cabinets, a crucial step toward reducing the epidemic of prescription drug abuse that is plaguing this nation,” said DEA Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart said in a statement.

Across the country, people went to more than 4,000 places to bring old drugs for safe and environmentally friendly collection. It is illegal to turn over unused prescription drugs to anyone other than police, however, the House and Senate recently passed legislation allowing state and private organizations to create responsible drug return programs. The bill now awaits President Obama’s signature.

The Drug Enforcement Administration hopes to hold at least one more take-back day before any legislation takes effect. According to federal data, in the six years ending in 2006, there was a 175 percent increase in accidental prescription overdoses. By 2009, 7 million Americans abused prescription drugs, an increase from 6.3 million in 2008.

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Prescription Drug Abuse in the Military Rapidly Rising

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010

Officials at the Defense Department hope to shed light on the disturbing new trend in substance abuse by members of the military services. According to the department’s annual Survey of Health Related Behaviors Among Active Duty Personnel, prescription drug abuse is increasing. In 2005, the survey indicated an increase in prescription drug use, inhalants and “designer drugs.”

The questions were changed a bit for the 2008 survey, but the increase did not change, and were eerily similar to a major civilian drug use survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Gil Kerlikowske, the drug control policy director, has called prescription drug abuse “America’s fastest-growing drug problem.” Recently, Congress passed the Secure and Responsble Drug Disposal Act, a law designed to stop misuse of prescription drugs through more efficient and safer disposal of unused or expired prescriptions.

“Prescription drug abuse is America’s fastest-growing drug problem, and one largely fed by an unlikely source – Americans’ medicine cabinets,” said Kerlikowske.

“It’s a huge concern, it’s a national concern,” said Lynn Pahland at Military Health Affairs. “Any kind of drug use or health choice that leads to the impairment of a military person leads to the degradation of readiness.”

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Prescription Drug Radio

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

Dr. Larry Golbom is addressing the subject of prescription drug abuse on the radio. The Tampa area pharmacist has experience with the subject – his son struggled with an addiction to prescription drugs.

“Prescription Addiction Radio” takes to the airwaves every Sunday night. Golbom believes it is the first and only radio program of its kind in the country.

“We have an epidemic that continues to grow,” Golbom said. “We have to first have some honest discussion. We don’t have that right now.

Golbom believes that his radio program will help bring what has been a taboo subject into mainstream discussion.

“What is it going to take for America to start talking about the issue of drugs and how it’s affecting every community in the country?”

For more information, go to

www.prescriptionaddictionradio.com 

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Communities Frustrated by the Rise in Prescription Drug Abuse

Friday, September 24th, 2010

Advocacy groups like the Butler County Coalition for Healthy, Safe and Drug-Free Communities are frustrated by the rise in prescription drug abuse. From 1999 to 2007, prescription drug poisonings in Butler County, Ohio have nearly quadrupled. A 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 64 percent of people under under 25 years of age got their supply of prescription pills from friends or relatives.

“That is the common thread that we feel is happening and where (medications) are coming from,” said Grace Marie Eckman, project specialist for Medication Take Back in Butler County.

“When another family member of someone in the household is looking for something to cure a headache, they know who is on medication for pain,” Eckman said.

The increase in prescription drug abuse is evident on the campus of Miami University in nearby Oxford, Ohio.

“We have, over the past years, seen more instances of prescription drug abuse, particularly stimulant drugs like Adderall,” said Lt. Benjamin Spillman of Miami University Police Department. “We’ve also seen people with legal prescriptions selling these to friends, presumably for the purpose of concentration for studying.”

Eckman wants to use school as a platform to teach about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.

 ”The schools have to be open to providing programs,” Eckman said. “The school has to be responsible to provide information. Our schools are our strongest asset and ally.”

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X-Ray Tech. Accused of Writing 100+ Fraudulent Prescriptions

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

Police in Pinellas County, Florida arrested an X-ray technician last week accused of writing more than 100 fraudulent prescriptions in her own name. Jessica A. Rhodes was arrested on six counts each of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and trafficking in hydrocodone.

Rhodes had been the subject of an investigation after receiving a tip from a pharmacist at a local Target. Police found that Rhodes had forged 121 prescriptions from April 8, 2009 to June 30, 2010. Rhodes then passed the prescriptions at pharmacies throughout Pinellas County.

One hundred of the forged prescriptions, which totaled about 3,765 pills, were for hydrocodone and oxycodone.

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Those Addicted to Painkillers Typically Under 65

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

A new study has found that patients with four common risk factors have a significantly higher risk of addiction to pain pills. 

A history of severe drug dependence and drug abuse compounds the risk. Common risk factors for painkiller addiction in patients with chronic pain are age (under 65 years old), a history of drug abuse, depression, and use of psychiatric medications.

Addiction to painkillers among these patients is as high as 26 percent.

“These findings suggest that patients with pre-existing risk factors are more likely to become addicted to painkillers, providing the foundation for further clinical evaluation,” said Joseph Boscarino, the lead study researcher.

“By assessing patients in chronic pain for these risk factors before prescribing painkillers, doctors will be better able to treat their patients’ pain without the potential for future drug addiction.”

The study finds that the same risk factors may also influence drug addiction in patients without a history of chronic pain.

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