Non-Addictive, Over-The-Counter Painkillers Alleviate Acute Pain As Well As Opioids
A new study finds that for patients who went to the emergency room for things such as a sports injury or a fall can be served just as well with over-the-counter pain relievers. Experts have pointed to prescription practices in those scenarios as part of the cause of the opioid crisis.
Los Angeles Times:
Over-The-Counter Painkillers Treated Painful Injuries Just As Well As Opioids In New Study
In an opioid epidemic that currently claims an average of 91 lives per day, there have been many paths to addiction. For some, it started with a fall or a sports injury, a trip to a nearby emergency room and a prescription for a narcotic pain reliever that seemed to work well in the ER. New research underscores how tragically risky — and unnecessary — such prescribing choices have been. (Healy, 11/7)
And in other news on the epidemic —
Orange County Register:
Faith Strong’s Long Fight To Help Addicts
Emergency room visits in the county resulting from opioid use increased 141 percent in the decade since 2005, according to a report released this summer by the Orange County Health Care Agency. ...Affluence, which can equal greater access to prescription drugs and a culture of “It can’t happen to me” have created a silent killer. (Neal, 11/7)
Los Angeles Times:
Public's Help Is Needed To Solve Sober-Living Home Issues, Officials Say At Costa Mesa Meeting
As a community meeting to discuss sober-living homes drew to a close in Costa Mesa on Monday, two messages from elected officials became clear. One: There is no easy way to solve all the issues surrounding such facilities, and many obstacles can stymie even incremental progress. (Money, 11/7)
