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Increase in painkillers for troops raises fears
By Gregg Zoroya - USA Today
Posted : Tuesday Oct 21, 2008 8:41:24 EDT
WASHINGTON — Narcotic pain-relief prescriptions for injured U.S. troops have jumped from 30,000 a month to 50,000 since the Iraq war began, raising concerns about the drugs’ potential abuse and addiction, a leading Army pain expert said.
The sharp rise in outpatient prescriptions suggests doctors rely too heavily on narcotics and don’t manage pain with a complex array of treatments, said Army Col. Chester “Trip” Buckenmaier III, director of the Acute Pain Service Management Initiative at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.
By 2005, two years into the war, narcotic painkillers were the most abused drug in the military, according to a survey that year of 16,146 service members.
Among soldiers, 4 percent surveyed in 2005 admitted abusing prescription narcotics in the previous 30 days, with 10 percent doing so in the last 12 months. Researchers said the higher abuse figures might be due to respondents mistakenly referring to legal use of pain medication. A 2008 survey has not been released.
By Gregg Zoroya - USA Today
Posted : Tuesday Oct 21, 2008 8:41:24 EDT
WASHINGTON — Narcotic pain-relief prescriptions for injured U.S. troops have jumped from 30,000 a month to 50,000 since the Iraq war began, raising concerns about the drugs’ potential abuse and addiction, a leading Army pain expert said.
The sharp rise in outpatient prescriptions suggests doctors rely too heavily on narcotics and don’t manage pain with a complex array of treatments, said Army Col. Chester “Trip” Buckenmaier III, director of the Acute Pain Service Management Initiative at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.
By 2005, two years into the war, narcotic painkillers were the most abused drug in the military, according to a survey that year of 16,146 service members.
Among soldiers, 4 percent surveyed in 2005 admitted abusing prescription narcotics in the previous 30 days, with 10 percent doing so in the last 12 months. Researchers said the higher abuse figures might be due to respondents mistakenly referring to legal use of pain medication. A 2008 survey has not been released.
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The dramatic increase in the number of prescriptions had better send off some serious alsrms. Addiction to pain killers is already taking a toll, not only on the military but the general population. Somebody had best get a handle on this SERIOUS SITUATION before it spirals out of control.
ReplyDeleteHi Grandma B
ReplyDeleteIt's already out of control. The troops right now are still being given heavy drugs to allow them to stay in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of the drugs they are given for pain, sleep and depression, need medical monitoring as well as psychology help. They are not getting it and then they wonder why there are so many coming home "messed up" from what they are all put through.
"doctors rely too heavily on narcotics and don’t manage pain with a complex array of treatments" - I would say there is little circumstances during the war for the doctors to deliver complex treatments for the soldiers. So perhaps, prescription drugs are just the simple way of pain management in this situation.
ReplyDeletePatient, it's an easy out for the military instead of getting into proper treatment. They need as many boots on the ground as possible but they do not take into consideration what it is doing to the troops. We have civilian doctors regarding pain management the same way, basically saying here's a pill now go away.
ReplyDelete