Abuse of prescription drugs has become more than epidemic and is a major concern for everyone.  Odds are you know some or have someone in your family that has faced issues with opioid abuse. 

The DEA is cracking down on the potential for abuse of prescription drugs by monitoring every prescription written and dispensed in the country.  This data is readily available to physicians, providers, pharmacies and the DEA. 

Before we write any controlled substance, we have to run a database checkup on patients for multiple states before we can print a prescription.  Each prescription has to be at an appointment, the database has to be checked and the prescription has to be hand signed on secure paper.  We cannot even call in cough syrups any longer.  Despite all of these measures, people are still getting their hands on some of these drugs but the supply is starting to dwindle and people are finally starting to look for help which is terrific, but some are turning instead to heroin which is a much greater problem. 

If you know someone you suspect is suffering from opioid abuse or withdrawl, here is a helpful resource and links to places that can provide help.

Resources

Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Administration (SAMhSA)

National Treatment Referral Helpline 

1-800-662-HELP (4357) or 1-800-487-4889 (TDD — for hearing impaired)

National Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/TreatmentLocator     to search by state, city, county, and zip code

Buprenorphine Physician & Treatment Program Locator: http://www.buprenorphine.samhsa.gov/bwns_locator

State Substance Abuse Agencies: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/TreatmentLocator/faces/abuse­ Agencies.jspx

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/VitalSigns/PainkillerOverdoses

National Institutes of health (NIh), National Center for Biotechnical Information:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Partnership at Drug-Free.org: 

http://www.drugfree.org/uncategorized/opioid-overdose-antidote

Project Lazarus: http://projectlazarus.org

harm Reduction Coalition: http://harmreduction.org

Overdose Prevention Alliance: http://overdosepreventionalliance.org

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