Global Breaking News - Sunday, December 22, 2024

How to Curb Prescription Drug Abuse

The toxicology reports on Whitney Houston’s death are still weeks from being released, but many are already speculating that her untimely death may be the result of mixing prescription drugs with alcohol, like so many other celebrities before her. Celebrities, of course, are in a class by themselves: money, fame and proximity to power will always inspire at least one doctor to prescribe something inappropriate. But prescription drug abuse isn’t just a problem among celebrities; it is a growing factor in accidental deaths nationwide. What is the best way to curb prescription drug abuse while ensuring that patients still receive the medications they need?
 
 환자가 계속 필요한 약을 받는것을 보장하면서 처방전의 남용을 억제하는 최선은 방법은?

* How to Treat the Epidemic
Prescribers, doctors and government and industry officials all have a role to play in attacking the problem.
 
* Opioids Are Rarely the Answer
Doctors need access to education and training programs that are free of industry bias.
 
* A National Monitoring Program
It would bring abusers into treatment, and do more to save lives than all the wars on drugs waged to date.
 
* Public Education Campaigns
No one action will fix this enormous problem, but comprehensive efforts can save one life at a time.
 
* Parallels With Gun Control
Doctors, pharmacists, drug companies and patient advocates have a moral obligation to find a compromise that serves broader public health interests.
 
* Patients Must Also Be Responsible
It is not only health providers and policy makers that must change, patients must change too.