Painkillers Kill More Than Heroin and Cocaine Combined
Analyzing 1999-2010 data, it was found that more Americans died in 2008 from painkillers than illegal drugs like cocaine and heroin combined.
Responsible for nearly 15,000 deaths in 2008, prescription painkillers have become wildly popular among Americans.
Many of these individuals obtain the drugs by eliciting prescriptions from several doctors, known as ‘doctor shopping’ within the community. Others purchase them underground and from illegal online pharmacies, bringing the ingredients into question.
Prescription painkillers are known to ‘numb’ the pain, which is achieved by their ability to bind to brain receptors and decrease your body’s ability to process pain signals. As a result, it’s easy to enter into this ‘feel good’ state to the point of serious addiction and even physical dependence. Think similarly to a heroin user who needs to inject the drug multiple times a day in order to reach the ‘high’ that they have become accustomed to.
It is no wonder that the amount of painkillers made available at pharmacies and even doctors’ offices has quadrupled from 1999 to 2010. In fact, the CDC has blamed irresponsible doctors for unnecessarily prescribing painkillers to patients who do not need them.
Highlights from the 1999-2008 Analysis
- In 2007, nearly 100 people died daily from drug overdoses in the U.S.
- Prescription drugs, particularly opioid pain relievers (OPRs), have been a major contributor to the increase in overdose deaths since 1999.
- The epidemic of prescription drug overdoses has significantly worsened over the last decade. By 2008, drug overdose deaths reached 36,450, nearing the number of deaths from motor vehicle crashes (39,973), the leading cause of injury death in the U.S.
- In 2008, the U.S. witnessed 36,450 drug overdose deaths, with OPRs involved in 14,800 (40.6%) of these cases.
- In 2009, emergency department visits related to pharmaceutical misuse or abuse surpassed those for illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine.
- OPRs, including drugs like oxycodone and hydrocodone, are often diverted for nonmedical use.
- In 2010, 4.8% of the U.S. population aged 12 and above used OPRs nonmedically, costing insurance companies up to $72.5 billion annually in healthcare costs.
- By 2010, OPR sales were high enough to medicate every American adult with a standard dose of hydrocodone for one month. This increased use has contributed to the rise in overdose deaths and nonmedical use.
Highlights from the 1999-2010 Analysis
Similar findings were had after our initial 2011 reporting. Here are some of the key updated findings:
- Drug Overdose Deaths: In 2010, there were 15,323 drug overdose deaths among women, a rate of 9.8 per 100,000 population. Of these, 71.3% specified a drug, with 85% involving prescription drugs and 71.3% involving OPRs. This represents a substantial increase from 1999.
- OPR Overdose Deaths: The number of OPR overdose deaths among women increased by 415% from 1999 to 2010, compared to a 265% increase among men. The rate of OPR deaths was four times that of cocaine and heroin deaths combined.
- Suicide Drug Overdose: OPRs were involved in one in 10 suicides among women.
- Emergency Department (ED) Visits: In 2010, women made 943,365 ED visits for drug misuse or abuse. The highest rates were for cocaine or heroin, benzodiazepines, and OPRs.
- Trends Over Time: From 2004 to 2010, OPR death rates and ED visit rates among women increased substantially, with OPR deaths increasing by 70% and OPR-related ED visits more than doubling.
Hopefully, we can continue to crack down on needless opioid prescriptions and launch initiatives to streamline a better pain management system.
Share this with the AMA and see what they say.
As a law abiding adult, who lives with chronic severe pain, I resent the statements of CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden, that,“More of a problem is now created by a few irresponsible doctors than drug pushers on street corners,” . Yes, I am well aware of the dangers of long term opiate use, however, it is, and should remain, a decision that is between my doctor and myself. In my case, and many others I would imagine, the benefits outweigh the downside. These drugs should not be rationed out solely to dying cancer patients. They must remain an available option for those of us who suffer from agonizing conditions that we have no choice but to live with on a daily basis. People in pain do not need bureaucratic government agencies like The CDC making treatment decisions for them in this country. M.D.'s are qualified, and allowed, to make these decisions on a case by case basis, and I certainly hope it stays that way. Pain medicine should not only be reserved for the dying. A person who is is LIVING with severe chronic pain needs to have access to this medication without being branded a "drug seeker", or an addict. Doctors nowadays are extremely hesitant to prescribe opiates because of the abundance of bad press like this. Sure, there are, as stated in the article,"a few irresponsible doctors", but why on Earth should this be cause to punish every doctor and patient who has responsibly, and legally, used these drugs for the purpose that they are intended? Is this nothing more than a case of one or two bad apples spoiling the entire bunch, or in this case, population? This is extremely troubling to me, as a person who has suffered from an incurable neurological disease that is indescribably excruciating. If I were denied access to the pain medication that I am prescribed, I would wish that I were one of the dying patients.
I would say its not "one or two" bad apples, it's a truckload of bad apples, and unfortunate and tragically suffering chronic pain sufferers are not the focus of the article. Its about the kids who get it in school, irresponsible docs who give it to patients for a sore tennis elbow etc, and the addicts who sell their methadone for pills, but even more its the underlying pathetic state of modern man, who needs something artificial to feel good about life itself. The article isn't about chronic pain issues or sufferers. Hope you find some relief to your condition down the road.
Hey Diane, I got news for you, if the parents did their job they shouldn't have to worry about "kids" as you say getting into this stuff. That's a whole different topic all together. But, the bottom line is that opium/opiate derivatives have been around for centuries and they will continue to be. We have too much government regulation as it, the government should not have a say in what a person does or does not put into their body. In fact just like prohibition increased gang violence 10 fold in the 1920's, (which mostly ceased to exist once alcohol was legal again). I believe if all drugs were made legal, there first of all would not be thousands of people suddenly going out and using something like heroin. In fact, just the opposite would probably happen and like life after prohibition, drug related violence would almost be non existent. Plus the whole idea of it being a "bad taboo", act that entices teens to want to try it would actually make most young teens just think of it as no big deal, and so the level of use with teens would surely decrease. My point is, drug use weather legitimately needed and prescribed or not should be up to the individual regarding what they personally choose to put into their own body or not. It should no be up to what some bueratic agency with its own self appointed non elected members choose. All drugs should be legal period. Just like the local town drunk who lives out of a shopping cart wants to be a wandering unemployed drunk bum all day provided he/she is not causing any public disturbances or bothering anyone, I see no reason why some drug addicted bum can't also be allowed to choose his/her own fate again provided they are not causing any problems to others. I myself am not a drug user or here to glorify drug use, I just believe that in a truly free society the right to what you can and can't put into your own body comes down to your individual choice. That goes for what is prescribed and what is found on the streets. The drug companies are going to still manufacture drugs anyway.
Mike, as a recovering Heroin addict, alcohol is 10 fold less addictive then drugs like opiates and methamphetamines. When we try alcohol in high school, and beyond, addiction comes slowly and at much lower rate, because it is so far from opiates on the physically and mentally addictive scales. So next time you think legalizing would be a good idea, think about your child or grandchild trying heroin (since now it would be easy to obtain and much more common among youth, I NEVER came across hard drugs in high school just 5 years ago) and rather then them just having a good time a thinking lets do that again next weekend, it becomes the best feeling they've every experienced and nothing else will every bring that feeling, it quickly (within days) becomes an every day activity, or necessity for their survival. I got into heroin because I had two sports related surgeries and was prescribes opiate pain killers, which I took responsibly as prescribes, and got addicted over time. And when somebody told me heroin provided the EXACT same feeling as those pills, only better and cheaper. I tried it, regretfully and foolishly. But your body and subconsious does not take into account that it will ruin your life quicker than you can imagine. SOOOOO next time you decide to suggest something so stupid and careless and thoughtless, think of somebody you love ruining there life because heroin was legal and you thought they'd be "smart" enough not to get addicted (because clearly all drug addicts and alcoholics want to end up ruining there lives.. NOT). So again, stop saying and thinking such stupid thoughts.
I agree with Mike. decriminalize all drugs for adults. Just like alcohol and cigarettes. One should be able to buy good quality heroin or cocaine over the counter as well as other recreational drugs. The only role I would like to see the Gov play in any of this is Quality control. It is your body and you should have the right to ingest mind altering substances if you choose to. If your little daughter Sally decides for whatever reason to start shooting dope, that is her choice. If the heroin she is using is regulated for strength and purity by some responsible agency she is more likely to come home alive than if she is shooting dope from the street that is almost always a sort of russian roulette. In a case like that it is your fanatical anti drug attitude which is more likely the true cause of her "accidental over dose." Other countries have decriminalized hard drugs and have had positive benefits from it. Check out Portugal for instance. You "puritans" think there is something wrong with pleasure be it from drugs or sex or whatever. What is your motto:? "No Pleasure Without Pain."
Then on the other hand if she is arrested for possession and sent to prison, she will most likely end up the sex slave of some butch dike lesbo. Think about that you moralist fanatics.
In my case, and many others I would imagine, the benefits outweigh the downside. These drugs should not be rationed out solely to dying cancer patients. They must remain an available option for those of us who suffer from agonizing conditions that we have no choice but to live with on a daily basis. People in pain do not need bureaucratic government agencies like The CDC making treatment decisions for them in this country.