Special Report: Prescription for Overdose
Opioids, or certain medications designed to relieve pain, are the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly half a million people died from prescription drug overdose in 2014. More than 40 people die each day from opioid overdose.
The American Society of Addiction Medicine claims the amount of prescription drugs sold in the U.S. has quadrupled over the past 15 years, despite no change in the overall amount of pain or painful conditions Americans report. New guidelines released by the CDC for doctors prescribing opioids say patients should be given the lowest dose, unless they are cancer patients or are terminally ill.
Doctors, addiction specialists, and even political leaders like Senator Claire McCaskill and President Barack Obama have gone as far as to call the opioid overdose problem an “epidemic.” Many experts say prevention is the most important way to attack the problem. Recognition that anyone can become a victim of opioid addiction is another step.
“They are people in your community,” said Heather Harlan, a prevention specialist at Phoenix Health Programs in Columbia. “They are your neighbors, they are people in your faith community, they are your loved ones. They are people you would not expect.”
According to Harlan, girls between the ages of 12 and 17 are the most common people coming to her for help. When treatment ends, however, the risk for overdose or relapse does not go away.
“If they go out and relapse with IV drug use, they are at a much higher risk because they think they can use at the level they used when they stopped,” Harlan said.
She cites celebrities like Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who overdosed in 2014 from a mix of heroin and opioids. Last week, pop star Prince died of a possible overdose on opioids.
“This has become, as you know, a national epidemic and a problem that’s really come under the radar, not only to health care providers, but also of legislators and political leaders,” said Dr. Chad Kraus, a specialist in osteopathic medicine who works with MU Healthcare’s Emergency Room management.
Missouri is the only state in the nation with no prescription drug monitoring program. Such programs are meant to prevent “doctor shopping,” or going to different doctors in an attempt to get one of them to prescribe a certain medication. Efforts to create a drug monitoring program in Missouri have thus far failed, and some blame one state senator in particular – Senator Rob Schaaf from Buchanan. Schaaf, a doctor, believes a monitoring program would lead to invasions of privacy. He also says it could lead to another problem as well.
“When you keep people from being able to get prescription drugs, they turn to heroin, because it’s cheaper and accessible; then they die of heroin overdose,” said Schaaf.
Fentanyl is one drug commonly given to patients with severe pain, and is 50-100 times more addictive than heroin.
“Thankfully, now that we’ve started to realize how big of a problem this is, we’ve really become better at balancing the need for pain control and pain relief,” said Kraus.
Young people typically have their first encounter with opioids after sports injuries or having their wisdom teeth removed.
“Even though your young person may be very trustworthy…this is not about the character of your young person or your teenager,” said Harlan. “This is about the physical consequences in the brain.”
According to the CDC, addiction is a “primary, chronic, and relapsing brain disease.” Studies show the use of opioids can physically rework the structure of the brain, making it more difficult to overcome an addiction. In addition to the physical consequences of prescription drug abuse, there are legal consequences as well.
“These (opioids) are basically synthetic heroin, and if you use [drugs] that are prescribed to somebody else, there are going to be serious consequences that go along with that,” said Captain John Hotz with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. He adds that if people can’t get opioid pills, they may move on to something stronger, like actual heroin.
The risk of overdose can increase, too, due to people concluding that because prescriptions are regulated, they are safe. Some who abuse prescription pills may believe they can’t get hurt, because the medications are prescribed and are regulated by the government.
The danger from opioid and other drug overdoses is a leading reason for the creation of drug take-back programs held by law enforcement and health agencies nationwide. The Boone County Sheriff’s Department is hosting a take-back event this weekend, with collections on Friday and Saturday (see below for locations and times). The Jefferson City Police Department will host a take-back event on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the department’s headquarters on Monroe Street.
Boone County Sheriff’s Department Drug Take-Back Event
Friday, April 29 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m
Harry S. Truman VA Hospital, 800 Hospital Drive, Columbia MU Student Center, University of Missouri-Columbia
Saturday, April 30 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Southern Boone High School, 14520 Crump Lane, Ashland Centralia Police Department Lobby, 114 S. Rollins, Centralia Hallsville Intermediate School Commons, 421 E. Highway 124, Hallsville Hickman High School, 1104 N. Providence Road, Columbia Rock Bridge High School, 4303 S. Providence Road, Columbia Prengers Market, 105 West Smith Street, Sturgeon
See below for more information on prescription drug disposal and how to do so safely:
