Prescription opioid pain medications are driving an "epidemic" of unintentional overdose deaths, according to a news release by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.
According to the release, a Journal of Clinical Psychiatry commentary article noted approximately 27,500 people died from unintentional drug overdoses in 2007. Of those deaths, opioid painkillers were involved in more cases than were heroin and cocaine combined. In addition, opioid pain medications were involved in approximately 36 percent of all poisoning suicides in the United States in 2007.
The authors said increased nonmedical use of opioids without a prescription "solely for the feeling it causes" and providers' potential unawareness of the extent of the association between chronic pain, mental illness and substance abuse may contribute to the problem. For example, opioids, benzodiazepines, anti-depressants and sleep aids are frequently prescribed together and found in toxicology reports for overdose deaths, according to the release.
The authors suggest prescribing opioids only after trying non-narcotic medications and other therapies, as well as screening patients for substance abuse and mental illnesses.
Read the UNC School of Medicine release on unintentional overdose deaths from narcotic pain relief drugs.
Related Articles on pain management:
Florida Society of Pain Management President Says Law Enforcement Campaigns Threaten Legit Practices
Supreme Court to Hear Case Over Prescription Data Mining
Researchers Shed Light on Lack of Screening Tools for Opioid Adherence
According to the release, a Journal of Clinical Psychiatry commentary article noted approximately 27,500 people died from unintentional drug overdoses in 2007. Of those deaths, opioid painkillers were involved in more cases than were heroin and cocaine combined. In addition, opioid pain medications were involved in approximately 36 percent of all poisoning suicides in the United States in 2007.
The authors said increased nonmedical use of opioids without a prescription "solely for the feeling it causes" and providers' potential unawareness of the extent of the association between chronic pain, mental illness and substance abuse may contribute to the problem. For example, opioids, benzodiazepines, anti-depressants and sleep aids are frequently prescribed together and found in toxicology reports for overdose deaths, according to the release.
The authors suggest prescribing opioids only after trying non-narcotic medications and other therapies, as well as screening patients for substance abuse and mental illnesses.
Read the UNC School of Medicine release on unintentional overdose deaths from narcotic pain relief drugs.
Related Articles on pain management:
Florida Society of Pain Management President Says Law Enforcement Campaigns Threaten Legit Practices
Supreme Court to Hear Case Over Prescription Data Mining
Researchers Shed Light on Lack of Screening Tools for Opioid Adherence