Responsible for 115 deaths each day, the opioid epidemic continues to devastate the nation. The death rate from these drugs has nearly quadrupled since 1999, and continues to rise. Nearly half of these opioid-related deaths—46 each day— were caused by a prescription opioid.
Prescription opioids (e.g., oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadone) are used to treat moderate to severe pain, and can provide effective pain management when prescribed and taken as directed. However, prescription opioids can also be misused and lead to addiction, death, job loss and a host of other problems, taking a significant human and financial toll on individuals, families, communities and states.
State lawmakers are crafting innovative policies—engaging health, criminal justice, human services and other sectors—to address this public health crisis while also ensuring appropriate access to pain management. This report provides an overview of state legislation setting guidelines for, or limits on, opioid prescriptions. As of early April 2018, at least 28 states have enacted legislation related to opioid prescription limits.
The opioid epidemic is fueled by misuse of prescription and illicit opioids (e.g., heroin and fentanyl). Research indicates that the majority of illicit users first misused prescription opioids. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there has been a significant increase in opioid prescriptions for pain since 1999, while the amount of pain that Americans report has not changed much overall. While new research found that the amount of opioids prescribed decreased between 2010 and 2015, it remains about three times higher than in 1999.
In response to the epidemic, the CDC released the “Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain” in March 2016. The guideline offers primary care providers a set of voluntary, evidence-based recommendations for prescribing opioids to patients 18 years or older in primary care settings. It focuses on chronic pain treatment, and does not apply to patients in active cancer treatment, palliative care or end-of-life care. The recommendations are based on existing scientific evidence. For example, higher doses of opioids are associated with higher risk of overdose and death. Even relatively low dosages—considered to be 20 to 50 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) per day—increase risk. As such, the guideline recommends starting with the lowest effective dosage, and carefully considering dosages above 50 or 90 MMEs per day. For treating acute pain, the guideline recommends a quantity no greater than what is needed for the expected duration of pain severe enough to require opioids, specifying that three days or less will often be sufficient and more than seven days will rarely be needed.
Using opioids to treat acute pain can lead to long-term use. The likelihood of long-term use increases based on the length of the initial prescription, according to the CDC. In fact, the likelihood of long-term use increases sharply after the third and fifth days of taking a prescription, and spikes again after the 31st day. According to the CDC, long- term use also increases with a second prescription or refill, a 700 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) cumulative dose, and an initial 10- or 30-day supply.
Improving prescribing practices and the way pain is treated is one avenue to help prevent misuse, addiction and overdose, while ensuring legitimate access to pain management. In recent years, a number of states have enacted policies related to prescribing opioids, some of which align with certain recommendations in the CDC Guideline.
Filed under: General Problems
It is stated that 46 deaths per day have opioid medication in their bodies. In conjuction with what?Alcohol? Cocaine? Heroin? Fentayl? Meth? Show me data. I have used opiod medicatioin for 23 years to continue to thrive. Grow a business. Survive without a handout.
The first paragraph is idiotic, I guess they are having trouble keeping their narrative straight.. since when is 46 half of 115 ?
AG jeff Sessions stated that 80 percent of the opioid overdoses from illicit drugs, heroin, fentanyl had first been presribed a legitimate opioid medication for pain from a surgery or injury. What about the millions of pateints now suffering under the 2016 CDC “policy” that have NEVER sought anything other than an effective pain management therapy……Jeff? What about those of us that were using opioid medication for pain management that do not seek illicit drugs more than a year after the CDC “voluntary” policy was issued? What about our Veterans that need an effective dosage of medication? what about those of us now unable to function very well? What about OUR side of the issue? What about those of us that CAN use medication responsibly? The opioid drug overdose issue will only continue to grow a long as legitimate patients are mistreated. There are always at least two sides to every issue. Jeff still is on the warpath to outlaw everything that benefits the majority of responsible PATIENTS. I at 59 years odl would MUCH rather see cannabis legalized than for our youth to be able to use distilled alcohol……:legally”. AS a firefighter in arural setting, I have assisted on MANY more alcohol/vehicle related accidents and deaths than I have seen the operators of a vehicle under the influence of cannabis OR an opioid medication. My government is assisting in ending lives and decaying health with an ineffective dosage of pain management medication. We HAVE documentation to bear witness that opioid medication can and does enable instead of disable ability. The DEA is so busy raiding legitimate pain management facilities, hassling well estblished physicians with a history of helping people with lifetime, continuous pain with opioid medication and illcit, deadly opioid drugs are on the increase of being “imported”. Illcit opioids are NOT being made in the USA, only allowed by the agency that is supposed to stop this crap from entering our country.
Again,no place to comment on their site,,but,,what an IDIOT,,, I never knew diabetic nerve pain had a time limit,or lymes,,or another incurable disease,,medical ,”misses,” ,,etc,,See this is what happen’s when u have opiatephobs write articles,,,the lie,,,thru their own stupidity of the medical field,,,maryw