Overdoses from prescription pain medications

Deaths from prescription pain medication in Washington seem to be

leveling off. According to the Washington State Department of Health,

after an eightfold increase the prior decade, the overdose rate in

Washington has declined by 29 percent between 2008-2013. There were 381

prescription drug overdoses reported in 2013 which is down by seven from

2012. The number of heroin overdose deaths is also leveling off, down

to 227 in 2013 from 231 in 2012.

Most prescription pain medication contains drugs known as opiates or

opioids. These powerful drugs are potentially addictive. The

Washington Department of Health also notes that prescriptions written

for these medications have increased dramatically since the late 1990s

as has the number of patients misusing and abusing them. Some who became

addicted to prescription opioids have transitioned to heroin, because

it's cheaper and more readily available in non-urban areas.

The Department of Health is working to ensure the safe use of pain

medication while preventing addictions. To be successful in this goal,

the agency has developed prevention practices in the past several years

to help decrease the number of prescription pain medicine deaths. These

practices include setting pain management rules for health care

providers and establishing the Prescription Monitoring Program which

helps providers see what medications patients are getting.

The Prescription Monitoring Program is a secure online database that

allows prescribers to see all prescriptions for controlled substances

that their patients are receiving. Health care providers can look for

duplicate prescriptions, potential misuse, drug interactions, and other

concerns. Pain management rules for health care professionals who

prescribe pain medication include guidance for using opioid-based

medications to manage chronic, non-cancer pain. These rules encourage

practitioners to become better education for safe and effective use of

these drugs.

It is important that patients who are prescribed opioid pain medications

always follow the label directions and consult with their doctor or

pharmacist if they have questions or concerns. Taking these powerful

drugs with alcohol, other prescription or illegal drugs can be dangerous

and possibly deadly. If you are concerned about overdose prevention,

discuss with your health care professional whether a prescription for

naloxone is appropriate. Other important reminders regarding pain

medications are to keep them in a secure place and don't share them with

others. Sharing prescribed pain meds with someone else is against the

law. Properly dispose of unused or expired prescription medications.

Several drug take-back-your-meds programs exist across the state,

including several pharmacies, police and fire departments, and other

locations are easy to find in many communities. For more information,

visit the department of health website http://www.doh.wa.gov.