A Warning on Pill Mills

Posted by Paradigm on July 24, 2012 under Pain | Be the First to Comment

Prescription opioid medication addiction and misuse is a serious national problem. So-called “controlled” substances now seem to be out of control due to a number of factors, including the rapid growth of interventional pain clinics that use injections and medications without regard for evidence based medicine.

These pill mills have dramatically increased the market for narcotics, and are a real safety risk for patients and the community at large.

Here are a couple of staggering statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

- 62 percent of opioid prescriptions in the entire country come from just 3% of doctors.

- Since 2003, there have been more deaths from opioids than from heroin and cocaine.

- And, perhaps most shockingly, 1.2 million emergency room visits were related to opioid misuse and abuse — that’s more than all illegal drugs combined.

Obviously, this is a major problem that requires a multi-faceted solution. Combating pill mills requires not only better legislation, but better enforcement of laws already in place.

Whether a pill mill patient or not, an addict requires a biopsychosocial treatment plan, something that Paradigm specializes in. Paradigm’s care and recovery model is based on a foundation of a clear diagnosis, coordinated care, and pain behavior intervention that addresses the whole person.

Give us a call at (888) 621-6602 for more information on opioid misuse and pain treatment plans that get individuals off narcotics and reduce lifetime costs by 41% .