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Support for Passage of National Prescription Drug Database

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Prescription drug abuse is rampant across the nation. Much of the epidemic has been driven by the misuse of opioid painkillers. Often, opioids are given after surgery to help minimize discomfort while the body heals. Unfortunately, due to a lack of education or miscommunication between patients and their physicians, it is not uncommon for individuals to become addicted to their painkillers.

Powerful opioid tablets are effective at providing relief from intense pain. Many are designed to release medicine steadily over several hours rather than all at once. When used correctly, a couple of doses per day can offer analgesic effects and a sense of relaxation. Problems arise, however, when these doses become irregular or excessive, leading to physical dependence in the patient. Thankfully, the rise of prescription drug databases offers a solution to this ongoing epidemic.

Prescription Painkillers and Addiction

Patients who misuse their opioid painkillers are at a high risk for becoming addicted. It’s not uncommon for individuals to take the pills more often than prescribed to maintain their desired level of relaxation and feelings of euphoria. Eventually, as the body begins to develop a tolerance for the prescribed painkiller, patients may begin to dose more frequently and start down a downward spiral into complete dependence.
The longer an addiction progresses, the more difficult it becomes for patients to keep up with their body’s demand for the drug. Some may turn to buying painkillers off the street while others will begin using heroin. It is also common for those who abuse painkillers to “doctor shop,” the practice of acquiring multiple prescriptions from multiple doctors and having these prescriptions filled at different pharmacies.

 

The Database Acts As a Stopgap for Doctor Shopping

Prescription databases are a huge step towards eliminating the practice of doctor shopping. These computer systems keep track of patients and doctors across the country, as well as monitor how many prescriptions each doctor writes and what condition each prescription is meant to treat. Networks also track prescriptions for individuals, preventing them from being filled numerous times if a patient attempts to visit multiple doctors or pharmacies.

States who use these systems have seen a major decline in prescription drug abuse. Doctors who overprescribe have been reprimanded, and users in these states now have a much harder time getting pharmacies to repeatedly fill out their prescriptions.

Making the Database a National Initiative

Despite the success of state programs, there is not yet a mandated national database for prescriptions. As a result, substance abusers who aim to doctor shop are still able to travel across state lines and have their prescriptions filled illegally. Alternatively, individuals may see doctors in multiple states to achieve the same results.

Many physicians and lawmakers are in support of a nationwide system in response to these holes in the state-based networks. Medical and addiction experts throughout the country see this strategy as the only way to stem the addiction epidemic and manage the rampant abuse of painkillers taking place across the country.

More Information Can Mean Less Drug Abuse

Information is key to solving the nation’s drug epidemic. A national database can help to improve accountability among health professionals and limit the number of illegal prescriptions being filled across the U.S. Taking steps to combat this disturbing trend will go a long way toward helping those who are suffering from addiction to get help and restart their lives.

Prescription Drugs Have Become a Problem in Florida and the Rest of the U.S.
If You or a Loved One Is Suffering From This Addiction Contact Us Now!

Safe Prescription Drug Detox

The post Support for Passage of National Prescription Drug Database appeared first on The Treatment Center.


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