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More bad press for CP patients
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7143475.html
The Houston Chronicle has run several articles about pill mills in this area. Today's article is very disheartening for legitimate pain patients. The most alarming paragraph is toward the end of the story with this statement:
FDA experts are considering a proposed ban on some forms of pain pills that contain acetaminophen. They've also recommended additional training for physicians who prescribe long-acting variations of the drugs.
*********************************
Painkiller abuse swamps local ERs
Houston has a high rate of cases involving the abuse of prescription drugs, a national hospital study finds
By LISE OLSEN
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Aug. 7, 2010, 8:08AM
Mayra Beltran Chronicle
Dr. Mark Escott, an emergency room doctor at Ben Taub Hospital, says patients often wrongly believe that prescription medications are less dangerous than illegal drugs.
Share Del.icio.usDiggTwitterYahoo! BuzzFacebookStumbleUponEmail Close [X]Houston has one of the nation's highest rates of emergency room visits linked to abuse of popular prescription pain medications known as hydrocodone and sold as Vicodin or Lortab — all highly addictive and potentially lethal, particularly when mixed into narcotic cocktails, a comparison of major U.S. metro hospitals shows.
An estimated 305,885 people visited emergency rooms nationwide in 2008 for overdoses and other problems linked to prescription painkillers — an increase of 111 percent over the number of patients who sought help in 2004, according to the federal government's Drug Abuse Warning Network.
Most of the emergency visits involved hydrocodone or oxycodone — opiates better known to consumers by such brand names as Vicodin, Oxycontin and Percocet — and often the pills were improperly mixed with other medications or alcohol.
"It's a problem in the city, it's a problem in the suburbs and it's a problem in our rural areas because prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs are easier to get and there's less of a stigma," said Dr. Mark Escott, a Baylor College of Medicine assistant professor and full-time emergency doctor at Ben Taub hospital.
"People have a perception that it's less dangerous because (they) don't have to go to a drug dealer to get them," he added.
Nationally, about 60 percent of those emergency overdose visits are covered by taxpayers through Medicare, Medicaid or other government programs at an estimated cost of at least $700 million in 2007 alone, according to other U.S. government data.
"If they're coming in for an overdose, it's very expensive. First we have to sort out what they've taken — what's the offending agent. A lot of these folks end up in the ICU," Escott said.
He said he's seen an increasing number of patients who have overdosed, suffered liver failure linked to the acetaminophen (mixed with hydrocodone in many popular pain pills) or who exhibit drug-seeking behavior or psychiatric problems related to pain-pill addictions.
'Frequent fliers'
In Houston, an estimated 3,900 people rushed to emergency rooms for treatment related to abuse of all kinds of prescription narcotic pain pills in 2008, the DAWN data shows. Only about 317 of them later got referred to treatment or detox centers.
"It's a big problem, and we have to take more steps to address it or we're going to create more of what we call 'frequent fliers' - people who keep going back to the emergency rooms for overdoses," said Mel Taylor, president and CEO of the nonprofit Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston. "Ultimately, if you keep doing this long enough, people die. That's the outcome other than recovery."
Taking too many pain pills — or mixing them with alcohol or anti-anxiety drugs like alprazolam (Xanax) — can dangerously depress a victim's respiration rates and cause death. Rates of emergency room visits linked to misuse of alprazolam in Houston also are consistently the highest of 12 of the largest metropolitan areas who report to DAWN, the data show.
Emergency room visits for all kinds of pain medications increased in all major cities from 2004-08, rising 52 percent in Houston, 79 percent in San Francisco and 294 percent in Denver, according to DAWN.
Houston woman's death
Houston's Charles Seigle tried hard to save his own wife, repeatedly taking her to local emergency rooms when she became unresponsive from taking too many pain pills. Twice, he called 911.
In the end, a cocktail of medications killed her anyway. In February, he found her in the living room, slumped in a recliner with the remote still in her hand. She was dead at 42.
"It's a huge epidemic," Seigle said. "When my wife died, it was a real eye-opener. Many of my friends told me they had family members with prescription drug problems. But nobody ever talks about it."
An overdose of pain medication can look like a harmless deep sleep, though some victims began to snore or breathe unusually loudly. Eventually, blood-oxygen levels drop dangerously and the heart stops. If administered in time, a drug called naloxone, often carried in ambulances, can quickly block the effect of an opiate on the brain.
Yet nearly 250 people died of prescription drug accidental overdoses last year in Harris County alone.
Problems linked to misuse of such drugs present "significant financial costs to society in addition to the costs to individuals and families," according to a report issued by the Food and Drug Administration in June.
FDA experts are considering a proposed ban on some forms of pain pills that contain acetaminophen. They've also recommended additional training for physicians who prescribe long-acting variations of the drugs.
Pain pills also have been linked to a nationwide wave of accidental overdose deaths.
lise.***@****
The Houston Chronicle has run several articles about pill mills in this area. Today's article is very disheartening for legitimate pain patients. The most alarming paragraph is toward the end of the story with this statement:
FDA experts are considering a proposed ban on some forms of pain pills that contain acetaminophen. They've also recommended additional training for physicians who prescribe long-acting variations of the drugs.
*********************************
Painkiller abuse swamps local ERs
Houston has a high rate of cases involving the abuse of prescription drugs, a national hospital study finds
By LISE OLSEN
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Aug. 7, 2010, 8:08AM
Mayra Beltran Chronicle
Dr. Mark Escott, an emergency room doctor at Ben Taub Hospital, says patients often wrongly believe that prescription medications are less dangerous than illegal drugs.
Share Del.icio.usDiggTwitterYahoo! BuzzFacebookStumbleUponEmail Close [X]Houston has one of the nation's highest rates of emergency room visits linked to abuse of popular prescription pain medications known as hydrocodone and sold as Vicodin or Lortab — all highly addictive and potentially lethal, particularly when mixed into narcotic cocktails, a comparison of major U.S. metro hospitals shows.
An estimated 305,885 people visited emergency rooms nationwide in 2008 for overdoses and other problems linked to prescription painkillers — an increase of 111 percent over the number of patients who sought help in 2004, according to the federal government's Drug Abuse Warning Network.
Most of the emergency visits involved hydrocodone or oxycodone — opiates better known to consumers by such brand names as Vicodin, Oxycontin and Percocet — and often the pills were improperly mixed with other medications or alcohol.
"It's a problem in the city, it's a problem in the suburbs and it's a problem in our rural areas because prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs are easier to get and there's less of a stigma," said Dr. Mark Escott, a Baylor College of Medicine assistant professor and full-time emergency doctor at Ben Taub hospital.
"People have a perception that it's less dangerous because (they) don't have to go to a drug dealer to get them," he added.
Nationally, about 60 percent of those emergency overdose visits are covered by taxpayers through Medicare, Medicaid or other government programs at an estimated cost of at least $700 million in 2007 alone, according to other U.S. government data.
"If they're coming in for an overdose, it's very expensive. First we have to sort out what they've taken — what's the offending agent. A lot of these folks end up in the ICU," Escott said.
He said he's seen an increasing number of patients who have overdosed, suffered liver failure linked to the acetaminophen (mixed with hydrocodone in many popular pain pills) or who exhibit drug-seeking behavior or psychiatric problems related to pain-pill addictions.
'Frequent fliers'
In Houston, an estimated 3,900 people rushed to emergency rooms for treatment related to abuse of all kinds of prescription narcotic pain pills in 2008, the DAWN data shows. Only about 317 of them later got referred to treatment or detox centers.
"It's a big problem, and we have to take more steps to address it or we're going to create more of what we call 'frequent fliers' - people who keep going back to the emergency rooms for overdoses," said Mel Taylor, president and CEO of the nonprofit Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston. "Ultimately, if you keep doing this long enough, people die. That's the outcome other than recovery."
Taking too many pain pills — or mixing them with alcohol or anti-anxiety drugs like alprazolam (Xanax) — can dangerously depress a victim's respiration rates and cause death. Rates of emergency room visits linked to misuse of alprazolam in Houston also are consistently the highest of 12 of the largest metropolitan areas who report to DAWN, the data show.
Emergency room visits for all kinds of pain medications increased in all major cities from 2004-08, rising 52 percent in Houston, 79 percent in San Francisco and 294 percent in Denver, according to DAWN.
Houston woman's death
Houston's Charles Seigle tried hard to save his own wife, repeatedly taking her to local emergency rooms when she became unresponsive from taking too many pain pills. Twice, he called 911.
In the end, a cocktail of medications killed her anyway. In February, he found her in the living room, slumped in a recliner with the remote still in her hand. She was dead at 42.
"It's a huge epidemic," Seigle said. "When my wife died, it was a real eye-opener. Many of my friends told me they had family members with prescription drug problems. But nobody ever talks about it."
An overdose of pain medication can look like a harmless deep sleep, though some victims began to snore or breathe unusually loudly. Eventually, blood-oxygen levels drop dangerously and the heart stops. If administered in time, a drug called naloxone, often carried in ambulances, can quickly block the effect of an opiate on the brain.
Yet nearly 250 people died of prescription drug accidental overdoses last year in Harris County alone.
Problems linked to misuse of such drugs present "significant financial costs to society in addition to the costs to individuals and families," according to a report issued by the Food and Drug Administration in June.
FDA experts are considering a proposed ban on some forms of pain pills that contain acetaminophen. They've also recommended additional training for physicians who prescribe long-acting variations of the drugs.
Pain pills also have been linked to a nationwide wave of accidental overdose deaths.
lise.***@****
Sandee, I had no idea hydro and oxy-codone are in the top ten list of prescribed and purchased meds. I guess it makes sense when you think about it. Some people don't go to the doctor until it hurts or it's really swollen, so I guess that's why that number is high.
It's just hard to believe because I know most of us consider those meds so short acting that they're not much help for long-term CP except as a BT med. Some people do rely on those meds to live, though, and it would be awful if anyone has to suffer because of another's abuse.
Design, I'm with you. In the end it just makes it harder for all of us just to function. Very sad.
It's just hard to believe because I know most of us consider those meds so short acting that they're not much help for long-term CP except as a BT med. Some people do rely on those meds to live, though, and it would be awful if anyone has to suffer because of another's abuse.
Design, I'm with you. In the end it just makes it harder for all of us just to function. Very sad.
I just read this post. Wow, how sad. As Jaded was saying, I feel it is more difficult for people who are younger to get the medication that they need. It definitely makes it more difficult for all of us true chronic pain sufferers to get the medication that we need to function with the illnesses that we have. My fear is that they we will eventually not be able to get the medication that we need in order to handle our pain.
If you recall last year they wanted to ban all narcotics with acetaminophen and that quickly got knocked down.
I am not one that is into politics or follows it but I do know that these huge drug companies make contributions to various political organizations and there is just too much money to be lost on all sides if these drugs were banned. It will never happen. Hydrocodone and oxycodone are the in the top ten of the top selling medications prescribed and purchased.
How many times have you been to the ER and actually gotten narcotics. Very few! There are people who come here all the time and they need help with pain issues and they never get help. I have been to to the ER many times in my lifetime and I can count on one hand the amount of times I was given narcotic prescriptions.
I would like to know where all these people are that are getting all these narcotics from ER's is because in my opinion they do not exist.
With all the celebs such as Anna Nicole and Michael Jackson dying from prescription narcotics the ER Doctors very rarely if ever prescribe them.
I do not know where they get these studies from but they are not even close to correct in my opinion.
The article is right on about the number one drug of choice to addicts is hydrocodone and oxycodone and that is the problem with CP patients trying to get treatment. The drug abusers are using the medications we have to use to function to get high but the law makers want to punish everyone who uses them instead of trying to weed out the ones who use them for recreational purposes.
I have said it before we the CP Pt's all need to stand together and demand they stop grouping us together with the abusers and addicts and those who divert these medications.
Together we stand apart we fall!
There are organizations who are trying to get the CP Pt's to ban together and make a stand but we all need to get involved. Sitting here and talking about it is not accomplishing anything at all.
Now I am not putting anyone down here because I myself do not do what I should to help our cause either. Being a Mom and business owner and running my home keeps me very bust but in order to get something done I , we must do something. Every little bit counts:)
Jaybay thanks for taking the time to post this. We all need to be more aware of things like this in the news.
In fact I believe we need to start a post each week for news articles from around the world concerning pain management and things that effect us.
I am not one that is into politics or follows it but I do know that these huge drug companies make contributions to various political organizations and there is just too much money to be lost on all sides if these drugs were banned. It will never happen. Hydrocodone and oxycodone are the in the top ten of the top selling medications prescribed and purchased.
How many times have you been to the ER and actually gotten narcotics. Very few! There are people who come here all the time and they need help with pain issues and they never get help. I have been to to the ER many times in my lifetime and I can count on one hand the amount of times I was given narcotic prescriptions.
I would like to know where all these people are that are getting all these narcotics from ER's is because in my opinion they do not exist.
With all the celebs such as Anna Nicole and Michael Jackson dying from prescription narcotics the ER Doctors very rarely if ever prescribe them.
I do not know where they get these studies from but they are not even close to correct in my opinion.
The article is right on about the number one drug of choice to addicts is hydrocodone and oxycodone and that is the problem with CP patients trying to get treatment. The drug abusers are using the medications we have to use to function to get high but the law makers want to punish everyone who uses them instead of trying to weed out the ones who use them for recreational purposes.
I have said it before we the CP Pt's all need to stand together and demand they stop grouping us together with the abusers and addicts and those who divert these medications.
Together we stand apart we fall!
There are organizations who are trying to get the CP Pt's to ban together and make a stand but we all need to get involved. Sitting here and talking about it is not accomplishing anything at all.
Now I am not putting anyone down here because I myself do not do what I should to help our cause either. Being a Mom and business owner and running my home keeps me very bust but in order to get something done I , we must do something. Every little bit counts:)
Jaybay thanks for taking the time to post this. We all need to be more aware of things like this in the news.
In fact I believe we need to start a post each week for news articles from around the world concerning pain management and things that effect us.
You're so right on many points, as usual, Tuck. I was also thinking that having PCPs follow PM for patients is a better route. It seems like having doctors have to make it a specialty and see only pain patients is making them blind to the abusers.
I was thinking about contacting my State's legislators as well. They'll never know if we don't speak up.
Thanks for the original post, Jaybay, I had no idea Texas has a problem with these things, too.
I was thinking about contacting my State's legislators as well. They'll never know if we don't speak up.
Thanks for the original post, Jaybay, I had no idea Texas has a problem with these things, too.
Sad Jaybay. This proves the fact that it is the minority that ruins it for the majority. Laws are made for a few and end up effecting the many. In this case the many is US.
This very issues is being looked at in Washington State if you recall.
As you know in our state the PCP prescribe PM patients opiates. They are required to have additional training in opiate medications, their use, interaction and so forth.. This is nothing new for us. For the most part in works very well in WI.
We'll never stop the abusers. When they make tighter and tougher restrictions they will only go to other drugs. But those that are intent of abusing prescription opiates will find a way obtain them. We know that the law enforcement officials are unable to stop this problem now. New laws won't change that fact. My concerns is that new laws will only make it difficult and in some cases impossible, for deserving CP patients to obtain adequate pain control.
We must be active in our local state and national chronic pain management advocacy groups to make our voices heard. If we sit ideally by only the abusers and criminals will have access to our much needed pain management narcotics. We need to voice our complaints and concerns where it will count.
I know that everyone of us want these pill mills to be driven out of business. How they do that and still protect our rights an access will be a tricky task and remains to be seen.
Thanks for sharing your state's news!
~Tuck
This very issues is being looked at in Washington State if you recall.
As you know in our state the PCP prescribe PM patients opiates. They are required to have additional training in opiate medications, their use, interaction and so forth.. This is nothing new for us. For the most part in works very well in WI.
We'll never stop the abusers. When they make tighter and tougher restrictions they will only go to other drugs. But those that are intent of abusing prescription opiates will find a way obtain them. We know that the law enforcement officials are unable to stop this problem now. New laws won't change that fact. My concerns is that new laws will only make it difficult and in some cases impossible, for deserving CP patients to obtain adequate pain control.
We must be active in our local state and national chronic pain management advocacy groups to make our voices heard. If we sit ideally by only the abusers and criminals will have access to our much needed pain management narcotics. We need to voice our complaints and concerns where it will count.
I know that everyone of us want these pill mills to be driven out of business. How they do that and still protect our rights an access will be a tricky task and remains to be seen.
Thanks for sharing your state's news!
~Tuck
I'm with you on this subject really getting upsetting, Mama Sherry. I read the article and it really pisses me off.
Seriously.. Prescription drugs are easier to get than street drugs? Not if you're a real person in real need. And the people who sell these pills on the streets ARE drug dealers. So is any doctor who knowingly gives a prescription to a drug seeker.
I'm sure it would be a lot easier for any of us to find some illegal drugs than to go to the doctor and follow the rules.
I can see how this is becoming a problem for everyone in the medical profession. If they could understand a real CP patient's plight in this, as well as we understand theirs, then maybe we could get somewhere in this War on Prescription Drugs. Making things harder for legitimate CP patients is like shooting your own soldiers, though.
I wrote an almost-dissertation on what we could do to help prevent this crap, but talking about doesn't do anything to stop it. I just wish they could stop the abuses.
Seriously.. Prescription drugs are easier to get than street drugs? Not if you're a real person in real need. And the people who sell these pills on the streets ARE drug dealers. So is any doctor who knowingly gives a prescription to a drug seeker.
I'm sure it would be a lot easier for any of us to find some illegal drugs than to go to the doctor and follow the rules.
I can see how this is becoming a problem for everyone in the medical profession. If they could understand a real CP patient's plight in this, as well as we understand theirs, then maybe we could get somewhere in this War on Prescription Drugs. Making things harder for legitimate CP patients is like shooting your own soldiers, though.
I wrote an almost-dissertation on what we could do to help prevent this crap, but talking about doesn't do anything to stop it. I just wish they could stop the abuses.
Thank you Jaybay!!
It's REALLY getting to be quite frightening what is happening ALL over the Nation with our PM (Pain Management) Doctors and Clinics.
I think it's even MORE frightening the younger that you are when it comes to this problem. The Doctors ALREADY are reluctant to give anything that is very strong to the younger people that are in CP (Chronic Pain) as has been proven over and over and over on MH. We ALL understand the reasoning behind it because you CAN become immune to the meds very quickly and then WHERE do you go BUT it doesn't help our younger generation when they are feeling the same pain that we the older generation are feeling.
Now with even MORE restrictions coming into play and more education for the Doctors (which I think is a GOOD thing as MANY aren't very well educated on HOW to use these meds which does lead to overdosing in many instances) it will be even more difficult to obtain good PM. Hopefully, these Doctors will step up to the plate and see the writing on the wall about the education and VOLUNTARILY get the education that they need BEFORE it is required of them. Then there would be NO lapse in their being able to treat their patients!!
I wish there were a way to "weed out" the PM Patients that are in it JUST for the DRUGS and aren't in CP, as that would help tremendously. But who knows how to go about that successfully. They (the abusers and seekers) are VERY good at disguising there abuse and seeking and are able to hide it for long periods of time with their Doctors. They also need to "weed out" the "Pain Mills" that have RUINED it for ALL of us CP Patients that are in legitimate need of help with our CP. So many of us on MH have seen this daily on here.
Look what our Sweet JadedSweetheart is having to endure right now. Just because she lives in Florida where the "Pain Mills" are running rampant. Just ask Sandee about the damage that these TERRIBLE "Pain Mills" are causing the CP Patients in that State. She can tell you "music and verse" ANYTHING that you want to know about those "Pain Mills". She and Jaded BOTH have seen the damage FIRST HAND!!
I'm sorry for coming on here ranting and writing a BOOK!! :) This topic just REALLY gets my DANDER up. Everyday on MH we see these young people and there HORRENDOUS pain that they are in and then we here of even MORE stipulations and rules and TAMPERING by the Federal Government into our PRIVATE affairs and we KNOW that this will SPELL DISASTER for everyone concerned.
Thank you again Jaybay for posting this. :) You are always on top of these things.....Sherry
It's REALLY getting to be quite frightening what is happening ALL over the Nation with our PM (Pain Management) Doctors and Clinics.
I think it's even MORE frightening the younger that you are when it comes to this problem. The Doctors ALREADY are reluctant to give anything that is very strong to the younger people that are in CP (Chronic Pain) as has been proven over and over and over on MH. We ALL understand the reasoning behind it because you CAN become immune to the meds very quickly and then WHERE do you go BUT it doesn't help our younger generation when they are feeling the same pain that we the older generation are feeling.
Now with even MORE restrictions coming into play and more education for the Doctors (which I think is a GOOD thing as MANY aren't very well educated on HOW to use these meds which does lead to overdosing in many instances) it will be even more difficult to obtain good PM. Hopefully, these Doctors will step up to the plate and see the writing on the wall about the education and VOLUNTARILY get the education that they need BEFORE it is required of them. Then there would be NO lapse in their being able to treat their patients!!
I wish there were a way to "weed out" the PM Patients that are in it JUST for the DRUGS and aren't in CP, as that would help tremendously. But who knows how to go about that successfully. They (the abusers and seekers) are VERY good at disguising there abuse and seeking and are able to hide it for long periods of time with their Doctors. They also need to "weed out" the "Pain Mills" that have RUINED it for ALL of us CP Patients that are in legitimate need of help with our CP. So many of us on MH have seen this daily on here.
Look what our Sweet JadedSweetheart is having to endure right now. Just because she lives in Florida where the "Pain Mills" are running rampant. Just ask Sandee about the damage that these TERRIBLE "Pain Mills" are causing the CP Patients in that State. She can tell you "music and verse" ANYTHING that you want to know about those "Pain Mills". She and Jaded BOTH have seen the damage FIRST HAND!!
I'm sorry for coming on here ranting and writing a BOOK!! :) This topic just REALLY gets my DANDER up. Everyday on MH we see these young people and there HORRENDOUS pain that they are in and then we here of even MORE stipulations and rules and TAMPERING by the Federal Government into our PRIVATE affairs and we KNOW that this will SPELL DISASTER for everyone concerned.
Thank you again Jaybay for posting this. :) You are always on top of these things.....Sherry
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