Deaths from opioid pain reliever use more than tripled, data indicate

[Justin]

Copyright © 2009 by Custom Briefings

USA Today (10/1, Szabo) reports that the CDC announced Wednesday that the "number of overdose deaths from opioid painkillers -- opium-like drugs that include morphine and codeine -- more than tripled from 1999 to 2006, to 13,800 deaths that year."

Now, "drug-related deaths outnumber those from motor vehicle accidents in a growing number of states," the AP (10/1, Stobbe) reports. "Based on death certificate data, CDC researchers counted more than 45,000 US deaths from motor-vehicle crashes in 2006, and about 39,000 from drug-induced causes." And, nearly "90 percent of those drug fatalities are sudden deaths from overdoses, but the count [also] includes people who died from organ damage from long-term drug use or abuse."

Investigators also noted that rates of "fatal overdoses...involving opioid analgesics" were higher "among men, individuals aged 35 to 54 years, and non-Hispanic whites," Medscape (9/30, Cassels) reported. In "about 50 percent of deaths involving opioid overdose, more than one type of drug contributed to the death. Involved in 17 percent of deaths, a combination of benzodiazepines and opioids was specified most frequently," which was "followed by cocaine or heroin in 15 percent of deaths and benzodiazepines with cocaine or heroin in three percent of deaths." But, overdoses "involving methadone increased the most during the study period." WebMD (9/30, Boyles) also covered the story.

[Justin]

Below are the titles to the hyperlinked articles in my first post. I wanted to post the titles of these articles because they are quite alarming.

• Prescriptions now biggest cause of fatal drug overdoses
  
• CDC: Drug deaths outpace crashes in more states
  
• Opioid Overdose Triples in the United States, CDC Report Shows
  
• CDC: Alarming Increase in Methadone Deaths --> Deaths From Opioid Painkillers Have Tripled Since 1999

[KBear]

Wow... I think that alot of times when a person is on long term drug therapy, that they can get complacent and may not take the usage seriously.
I definitely take my prescription and OTC drugs very seriously. I do not take anything OTC with ibuprofen or acetaminophen, since I am already taking it in vicodin. I also do not add or change any drug (Rx, OTC, Vitamins & Supplements) without consulting my doctor. I also have a list of my medications (Rx, OTC, Vitamins & Supplements) in my computer and a printout in my purse that I take and show my doctor at each and every visit. I use the same pharmacy for all of my prescriptions and also buy all my supplements there, it is a small mom & pop pharmacy and I regularly talk with the pharmacist and ask any questions I may have. I read all the prescription inserts and warnings, will ask my doctor if it says something that makes we worry, if they say it is ok, I will then question the pharmacist.

[Justin]

Kathy, you are definitely covering all the bases! :thumpup:

One side effect the many patients on narcotics overlook is respiratory depression, or the decreased depth and rate of breathing. This decreased ventilation can lead to irreversible neurologic injury and death.

Always consult with your treating physician(s) regarding any questions or concerns with your medications.