Reuters, one of the nation’s best sources for the latest news from around the world, uncovers the truth behind the “pandemic of over-regulation” of painkillers. The guidelines for these opioid-based drugs are so strict that many cancer patients are suffering from unbearable pain.
The United States isn’t the only nation with stringent rules for obtaining these pain medications. A research team from the Global Opioid Policy Initiative (GOPI) assessed this issue and says, “Governments that over-regulate should consider the unintended consequences of restricting access to medicines and change their approach.”
At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, our main focus is you. Our approach to treatment is based around which ones provide the most effective results in a timely manner. However, though opioid medications provide long-lasting successful results, their usage is being abused, prompting the government to make it harder for individuals to obtain. To accommodate for this, our cancer patients are provided with the best treatments to reduce their pain. Southwest Spine and Pain Center is the premier pain clinic in Utah with the best pain care specialists on our team.
In October 2013, the FDA assigned stricter restrictions on Vicodin and other hydrocodone products. These medications and oxycodone products are now under Schedule II rules requiring a hand-written prescription from a doctor and a maximum of a 3-month supply. These rules were implemented to reduce abuse and diversion on medications that could potentially harm a person’s health if not taken properly.
Though opioid and oxycodone restrictions will hopefully help reduce addiction risks, the people who actually have excruciating pain end up suffering more. Lead research, Nathan Cherny, says, “This is a tragedy born out of good intentions.” The study conducted by the GOPI evaluated the availability and efficacy of the seven opioid medications provided to individuals in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
Cherny continued saying it “uncovered a pandemic of over-regulation in much of the developing world that is making it catastrophically difficult to provide basic medication to relieve strong cancer pain.” The researchers studied codeine, oral oxycodone, transdermal fentanyl, immediate/slow release oral morphine, injectable morphine, and oral morphine. The conclusion of the study found over-regulation to be a big problem for pain sufferers, and the shortage of available opioids.
At Southwest Spine and Pain Center realize that medication therapy is not the only outlet for pain management. We understand that patients want to find relief fast. Because of this demand, we have incorporated the most effective cancer pain relief treatments for our patients. To find out more about the treatments we offer, contact a Southwest Spine and Pain Center team member today! Read the rest of the GOPI study by clicking: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/27/us-cancer-opioids-idUSBRE9AQ1CJ20131127.
If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With three locations and growing, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.
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