Thirty-one of 75 patients hospitalized for opioid detoxification told the doctors that they had first become addicted to drugs that were legally prescribed for the treatment of pain. Another 24 patients began their dependence on prescription pills on a friend or parent medicine cabinet. The remaining 20 patients said they became addicted to street drugs.
This information was brought to the attention of doctors at the University of Buffalo. Ninety-two percent of patients in the study stated that they ultimately bought drugs on the street, primarily heroin, because they are cheaper and more effective than prescription drugs.
They told the doctors that they continued to use drugs because they “helped to remove my emotional pain and stress,” “feel normal,” or “feel better.”
The information will be used to train medical students and residents of the University of the Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and medical practitioners to identify potential dependence among patients and refer patients to a treatment program, if necessary.
The abuse of prescribed medications is the biggest threat associated with drugs to the health and safety of Floridians. In a Florida Medical Report in 2009, it turned out that overdose from prescription drugs killed seven Floridians every day. This is five times more deaths from all illegal drugs in combination.
This caused an explosion of pain clinics in Florida. Many of them are “pills” where drugs are sold for money. Florida has become popular for drug seekers from other states to come and get a supply of prescription drugs.
According to the 2008 National Drug Abuse and Health Survey, 70 percent of people who abuse prescription drugs get food from their friends and family. Other patients get their prescription drugs from a single doctor. Many other "doctor's shop" get their prescriptions for pain relief. Stolen, fake or counterfeit prescriptions are a common way in which addicts get their stock of prescription drugs.
In January, Florida convened a full-time prescription drug task force consisting of several government agencies and commissioned them to find a solution to this problem. In collaboration with federal agencies, the Task Force has accelerated its attack on criminal activity, which often surrounds the use of prescription drugs.
Law SB 2272 was passed, which provided more authority for health officials to regulate pain clinics in Florida. A prescription drug monitoring program will begin in December. This will allow doctors to see the patient’s medical history. As a result, potential “medical buyers” will be discouraged.
