Painkiller Prescription Falling In The US, But Fatal Overdoses Crisis Remains
For the first time in the past 20 years, the number of prescriptions for opioid drugs and painkillers is decreasing in the United States. These are the findings of a new study conducted by a relatively new body of research called IMS Health.
The research organization has found that in 2015, 17 million fewer painkiller prescriptions were filed. Even though the shift in how the medical industry works is a much welcomed change, the researchers fear that it might pave way for an increased demand for opioid medications, including drugs obtained both legally and illegally.
Nora Volkow of the National Institute of Drug Abuse believes that considering the number of cases of fatal overdoses and the opioid epidemic, it is important to introduce measures that make it really hard for the patients to obtain medications. One of the steps would be to continue to reduce the number of opioid painkiller prescription and to establish a system that covers the patients who can obtain drugs in an illegal way.
The epidemic surrounding opioid abuse in the country is primarily due to drugs that are not meant for consumption by patients. Despite the decline in the number of prescriptions, the research team found that overall; there has been an 8.5 percent increase in the prescription drug spending in the country.
The increase in the prescription drug spending is partly due to the existence of alternatives to prescribed painkillers such as gabapentin. This is one of the primary reasons why the death toll from the overdose has not decreased despite the fewer number of prescriptions.
Despite the implementation of stricter rules, the country has failed to stop people from having an easy access to powerful painkillers. In fact, prescription drugs have paved way for other powerful and highly addictive alternative opioids.
