The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration last week recommended relaxing regulations to allow 90-day prescriptions on some painkillers just a day before the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released a survey finding more baby boomers are abusing the regulated narcotics.
Mike Gimbel, director of the Substance Abuse Education office at Sheppard Pratt Hospital System, said the recommendations could send a mixed message, especially to those dealing with the mind-bending addictions painkillers can inflict on patients recovering from painful injuries.
“I?m sure the prescription drug industry is going to love it,” Gimbel said. “If it?s already a problem, why then would we want to put another 60 extra days of supply into anyone?s hands.”
According to the survey, most users of marijuana and prescription drugs reported that they got the drugs “from a friend or relative for free” ? 59.8 percent.
Gimbel said street users, people who buy prescription drugs from a dealer or illegal Internet sources make up a small percentage. Most are getting them from a friend who had a legitimate prescription.
“Doctors need to tell their patients when they prescribe these medicines that after a period of several months or less you will create an addiction,” he said. “Many patients are being left with their addiction after the pain is gone.”
According to Dr. Westley Clark, director for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration?s Center for Substance Abuse and Treatment, there is no conflict between their findings and the DEA recommendation.
“I think the key issue to remember is that people with a legitimate need for pain medication ? if they have a chronic or degenerative disease that responds well to the medication ? they?re probably going to need it for a while,” Clark said. Requiring repeat visits to the doctor can harm their recovery and burdens the medical community.
It?s the responsibility of patients and drug enforcement officers to ensure drugs don?t fall into the wrong hands, Clark said.
“We listened to the comments of more than 600 physicians, pharmacists, nurses, patients, and advocates for pain treatment, and studied their concerns carefully,” said DEA Administrator Karen P. Tandy. “The policy statement reiterates the DEA?s commitment to striking the proper balance to ensure that people who need pain relief get it, and those who abuse it, don?t”
The policy ? which is open to public comment for 60 days ? allows a physician to prescribe up to a 90-day supply of Schedule II controlled substances during a single office visit, “where medically appropriate.”
According to SAMHSA survey, adults aged 50 to 59 increased their use of current illicit drugs from 2.7 percent to 4.4 percent between 2002 and 2005. Those numbers reflect the aging of the baby boom generation, Clark said.
At a glance
» Today, more new drug users have begun abusing pain relievers (2.4 million) than marijuana (2.1 million) or cocaine (1.0 million).
» Six million Americans are currently abusing controlled substance prescription drugs- that is more than the number abusing cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and inhalants, combined.
» Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that opioid prescription painkillers now cause more drug overdose deaths than cocaine and heroin combined.
» Admissions to treatment for prescription opiates swelled by a third in just two years (from 46,972 in 2002 to 63,243 in 2004).
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
