Over-the-counter drugs can hurt the brain and increase risk of dementia (Photo : You Tube/Human Relations Media)
The prescriptions for painkillers and opioid drugs are finally declining in the United States after years of efforts and awareness. These are the findings of a new study conducted by a relatively new body of research called IMS Health.
This breakthrough has been finally achieved after 20 years of sustained growth in the number of painkiller prescriptions. A review of different sources of data confirmed that for three continuous year - 2013, 2014 and 2015 - the number of prescriptions has declined. In fact, in 2015, 17 million fewer prescriptions were filed for powerful opioid drugs known to relieve chronic pain.
A decline in the number of painkiller prescriptions may be a sign that the country is heading toward a change and that the physicians and federal and state agencies are working in close collaboration to reduce the effect of these highly powerful opioid medications.
However, there is one thing that still concerns the health authorities and make them want to believe that a fall in number of opioid prescriptions might not be enough. Despite fewer prescriptions, the number of deaths from a fatal overdose of powerful drugs such as Vicodin, OxyContin and Percocet continues to rise.
According to the country's federal health data, fatal overdose led to death of more than 28,000 individuals in 2014. In fact, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report that more than 145,000 people have lost their lives because of opioids in the last 10 years. The situation seems to have worsened since the federal laws concerning the use of prescription drugs have tightened.
"The urgency of the epidemic, its devastating consequences, demands interventions that in some instances may make it harder for some patients to get their medication," Dr. Nora Volkow of the National Institute of Drug Abuse told The New York Times.
Volkow further told the publication that it is high time for the authorities to devise a system that covers such patients. However, stopping the practice of prescribing opioids - like how doctors have done it till now - is a must and should not be continued anyways.
The decrease in the number of opioid prescription seems to have created a demand for alternatives, which can be obtained both legally and illegally. The availability of alternatives to such powerful drugs is one of the reasons why the prescription drug spending in the country has increased, despite the fall in the number of prescriptions.
The following video examines 10 facts about prescription drug overdose in America:
