New research released today by the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids confirms several “disconnects” in the pain-related communication between healthcare prescribers of prescription opiates (Rx painkillers) and their patients. The new data was fielded by the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, in collaboration with the American Cancer Society, the American Academy of Pain Management and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals to gain a better understanding of the interactions between opiate-prescribing healthcare providers and patients.
The new research uncovered concerning disconnects that can have the potential to make patients more vulnerable to misuse and abuse of Rx drugs, which in turn may lead to dependence or addiction to prescribed or illegal opiates. In fact, 4 out of 5 heroin users started abusing Rx opiates by misusing or abusing prescription medications.[i] Although most patients do not misuse or abuse their prescriptions, roughly 1 in 10 pain patients (7 percent of chronic pain patients and 13 percent of acute pain patients) report misusing their opiate prescription medicines, and more than 1 in 10 (13 percent of chronic pain patients and 15 percent of acute pain patients) have taken someone else’s opiate prescription.
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[i] http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/DR006/DR006/nonmedical-pain-reliever-use-2013.htm