Morning Read: A growing prescription drug epidemic in North Country?
Newspapers across the region are reacting to New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s claim that prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic levels in the North Country region. This from Brian Kelly at the Watertown Daily Times.
Mr. Schneiderman claims prescription drug abuse “has reached epidemic proportions” in the north country and across the state.
In a prepared statement, the attorney general, citing statistics from the state Department of Health Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, said the opiate hydrocodone was the most commonly prescribed controlled drug in Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin counties from 2008 to 2010, followed by another opiate, oxycodone.
In the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Chris Knight reports that addiction drug abuse has sent rates of emergency admission to hospitals in Franklin County skyrocketing.
In the North Country, the attorney general’s office said health care facilities have experienced a staggering increase in the percentage of non-crisis admissions for substance abuse involving prescription narcotics.
In Franklin County, the number of people who sought such drug treatment for such patients more than quadrupled, from 34 to 127, from 2007 to 2010.
The state Department of Health says the number of prescriptions given out in Franklin County for two of the most commonly abused narcotics, hydrocodone and oxycodone, increased 49 and 48 percent, respectively, from 2008 to 2010, according to the AG’s report.
In late December, Chris Knight profiled one woman who had fallen into the trap of prescription drug abuse. The report aired on North Country Public Radio.
“I’m very ashamed to say this, but it wasn’t as important for me to see my family and children as it was to get my next hook,” the woman, who was interviewed anonymously, said.
So what do you think? Is this something that you’re seeing in your town, your neighborhood, your family? Comments welcome, but remember – be thoughtful, respectful.
Tags: criminal justice, health
This topic will be discussed on the fairly new WPBS talk show hosted by Jeff Cole to air this evening. The guest, a former Watertown Judge, is suggesting the first step is beefing up the Watertown Police dept. I guess because interdiction has proven to be so effective with regard to the other prohibited drugs in our society. We need a new approach. An approach that isn’t based upon interdiction, prosecution, or incarceration but on treatment.
Some of the winters in the late eighties were pretty terrible as far as snow.
I think there were some super mild winters in the 50s also, anybody remember back then?
As it is with all controlled substances, no big deal. If you don’t have the right to kill yourself, you don’t have any rights.
Paul, yes the 50’s were mild. Back then people thought there would be palm trees growing in Central Park if the mild winters continued.
I don’t think stepped up interdiction and policing will be that effective against something this addictive.
We should go to the source and that is the over prescription of pain medications.
Why is it that LEGAL prescriptions have increased by huge percentages in the past 15 years? Is it that people are in SOOO much worse pain today than they were 15 years ago? What did people do then?
Its not like people are making this or growing it or importing it from some drug cartel, they are getting it from their doctors and then stealing and selling it to each other. We can control this but not by running around and chasing addicts.
Of course a whole bunch of people are getting wealthy prescribing this stuff, starting with the large drug corporations who instead of doing research in how to make better antibiotics are cranking out more opiates.
This is second hand info but I think it is fairly accurate. It seems the individual’s abusing these drugs are very smart and know what symptoms to fake in order to get a prescription. If a doctor doesn’t cooperate they find one who will. Many of these prescriptions are paid for through a social service program. So it would appear the tax payer is supporting much of this abuse.
I agree they doctor shop no doubt about it addicts are very very smart when it comes to their addiction.
The thing is though, this is not medicine, it cures NOTHING, it masks your pain and gets you high that is it. If doctors simply stopped prescribing this stuff except for end of life situations or very special circumstances fewer people would get addicted.
What did people with back pain do 15 years ago? Narcotics should not be used for chronic conditions.