How Stringent Regulation Can Help Control Opioid Addiction

1. How Stringent Regulation Can Help Control Opioid Addiction How Stringent Regulation Can Help Control Opioid Addiction In March 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new set of guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain. The following month, the Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing led various health care organizations to petition the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Health Care Organizations to end mandatory pain assessment due to the fostering of dangerous pain control practices that lead to overprescription of drugs. These actions come at a time when the opioid crisis has reached unprecedented levels in the United States, where the majority of overdose deaths are driven by the misuse of prescription drugs. Overall, the blame for the rise of opioid epidemic falls on many factors, such as false advertising on the part of pharmaceutical companies, loopholes in Medicare, surplus production of prescription pills, doctors and health care officials, etc. However, unlike the development of most addictions, the addiction to opioids uniquely begins in a doctor’s chamber. When a person who reports difficulty in managing his or her pain symptoms receives a legal prescription for opioids, he or she unknowingly falls into the clutches of addiction. Once an individual develops dependence on a medication, there is the risk that he or she may indulge in malpractices for accessing such medications, exaggeration of his or her pain symptoms, omission of facts about visiting other doctors, doctor shopping, theft, etc. such as The following are some of the eye-opening facts related to opioid addiction: Approximately 60 percent of patients using prescription opioids were also taking other prescription drugs that put them at a higher risk of overdose. The misuse of prescription opioids is a risk factor for heroin use as 80 percent of individuals stumbling into heroin use report the prior misuse of prescription opioids. In 2014, around 245 million prescriptions for opioid pain relievers were filled, thereby making them the most prescribed medication in the U.S. Of the new pain patients who consumed prescription opioids for over 30 days in the first year, around 47 percent continued to do so for three years or longer. www.sovaddictionrehab.com

2. The chronic opioid use can lead to increased pain sensitivity that tends to exacerbate pain conditions. Implementation of guidelines on opioids can save lives Because opioids aren’t always the most suitable option for many pain patients and doctors do partly contribute to a patient’s chronic misuse of opioids, the CDC developed new guidelines for opioid prescribing and treating chronic pain in primary settings. These guidelines offer a set of best practices that deter long-term opioid use and define strict directions pertaining to when to initiate, cease or continue opioids for chronic pain. Although it may not be mandatory to follow these guidelines, they suggest the ways to determine the selection of medications, dosages, length of treatment, follow-up and discontinuation. In addition, the guidelines provide a more detailed perspective on how risks and harms of opioids use are to be assessed, such as: Evaluating risk factors, such as pregnancy, kidney disease, being 65 years of age or older, health conditions, substance use disorder (SUD), prior nonfatal overdose, etc., before administering an opioid-related therapy. Incorporating strategies to mitigate risk by offering naloxone when a patient is found to be at an increased risk for opioid overdose. Using screening tools, such as the single question screener, the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) or the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), to know more about a patient’s substance-using behavior. Including Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) to determine the concurrent opioid use. Using urine drug test for screening the concurrent illicit drug use, avoiding concurrent prescription of other opioids and offering evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Abusing opioids is dangerous The problem of overprescription of opioids often gets worsened due to the failure of the medical practitioners to warn patients about the risk of developing dependence and witnessing overdose. Such a major gap in the field of medical care remarkably increases the risk of developing OUD among individuals coping with chronic pain. Because prescription opioids are extremely potent and addictive in nature, its adverse impacts can be felt from the first dose of opioids. If you or your loved one is battling an addiction to prescription pills, it is imperative to seek help. Sovereign Health offers world-class treatment for addiction to any substance through a chain of drug addiction rehab centers in California and other states. Call at our 24/7 helpline number 855-683-9756 to know more about our addiction rehab centers in California that specialize in delivering evidence-based intervention plans. www.sovaddictionrehab.com