A new study finds that patients using high or maximum doses of prescription opioid pain pills are at a significantly higher risk of dying from an accidental overdose.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of overdose deaths from
prescription pain pills increased by an unbelievable 124 percent. Between 2004 and 2008, visits to the emergency room from prescription drug overdoses more than doubled. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, among people between the ages of 45 and 54, overdoses from prescription pain pills are now the second leading cause of accidental death.
"Based on recent evidence, it seems we have been guilty of promiscuous prescribing in the context of non-cancer pain," said Dr. Richard Deyo, a professor of Family Medicine and Internal Medicine at Oregon Health and Science University. "The CDC now estimates that there are 13,000 deaths a year related to unintentional overdoses involving opioids."
Because of the rapidly growing epidemic of people becoming addicted to opioids, many physicians are unwilling to prescribe the
drugs to their patients. According to Dr. Lloyd Saberski, the medical director of Advanced Diagnostic Pain Treatment Centers in New Haven, Connecticut, many physicians instead refer their patients suffering from chronic pain to physicians specializing in pain management.
"Until recently, many have taught that there is no unsafe maximum dose of opioids, as long as doses are increased gradually. However, there is growing evidence that this is often not a terribly effective approach, and the safety concerns are growing," said Deyo.
