Healthcare Providers Helped Bring About the Opioid Epidemic; Now It’s Time to Help End It
Over 75 percent of opioid and heroin deaths begin with a prescription pain killer. It's time we as healthcare providers approach pain differently, smarter.
Declaring the opioid crisis a National Public Health Emergency is a good first step. But we can’t wait for Washington. We have approaches at our disposal that can effect very real change.
To read what Cleveland Clinic and other healthcare providers can do, please click here:
Commerical Development Executive
6 年Agree that health care providers need to look at the long term consequences as well as the short term impact on their quality of care.? Many opioid exposures initiate post-procedure leading to short-term delays in recovery and long-term burdens that we see today as the epidemic.
Support Staff at Volunteers of America
7 年They do not care about cures, only the $$$ cannabis is a much safer medication than Pharmaceuticals in time more people are going to learn that fact
Physician Assistant Certified, Internal Medicine at Greene County Health Care Inc.
7 年I used to keep some percocet in my safe. I got a script for #50 over 2 years ago. I took one about every 3 months, but I hung onto those pills. I had about 25 left, and when I take one, about every 6 weeks, I vomit it up 4 hours later. Can't take NSAID's anymore, too old and don't want to risk an ulcer again or the cardiovascular event. Now I have to find something else for a severe, intermittent back pain. But, I will be 'drug seeking'. Just finished a course on prescribing opioids. Still practicing and have patients with real pain, but I refuse to follow any of them for chronic pain, I refer them all to 'pain management'. What the heck?
Bridgett Oakley, Realtor?
7 年I am a Holistic Wellness Practitioner. My goal is to assist people regain their health thru nutrition, control pain with hypnotherapy, and overcome obstacles with Life Coaching, it works. I witnessed my Mother decline due to her MD'S "HEALTH MANAGEMENT" Thru prescription drugs. She was only 59 when she died. I am not a fan of the philosophy "a pill for every ill", BUT, with that said, medication is an importantb Part of pain management. Opiods have been used for decades, and while there has always been abuse, it has never been at such EPIDEMIC proportions. Dr's are not to blame. There is something else going on that is creating this EPIDEMIC of addicts, DYING.. I truly believe there is an emotional component. Which is a whole other topic. It's like blaming McDonald's for making you fat! Nobody forced you to eat it. I am also a recovered alcoholic, so I am not trash talking the addict, I understand addiction. I just think we have to stop the blame game and try to find the root cause.