Portal Login:
  • Clients
  • Providers
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
    Portal Login:
  • Clients
  • Providers
  • About MCN
  • Careers
  • MCNTalk
  • Contact Us

MCN | Medical Consultants Network

The Power of a Second Look

  • Services
    • Independent Medical Examinations
    • Medical Peer Reviews
    • Bill Review Services
    • Utilization Reviews
  • Expertise
    • Short and Long-Term Disability
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Auto/PIP/Casualty/Liability
    • Independent Review Organization Services
  • For Clients
  • For Providers
  • Your Exam
    • About Your Exam
    • About Your External Review
    • Contact & Scheduling
  • Schedule Now
  • About MCN
  • MCNTalk
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

MCNTalk
News, Insights & Opinions

Home / MCNTalk / These Deaths Are Not Statistics...

July 11, 2013

These Deaths Are Not Statistics…

In medical school and residencies the teaching is that narcotics have no place in the treatment of most chronic pain, especially musculoskeletal pain. But these teachings have been ignored and people are dying as a result. This article cites findings on significant death rates among women due to opiate overdoses, including from Oxycontin. These are prescription drugs, either received directly or drugs diverted to the street. These deaths are disproportionately the poor, single mothers, and the defeated. Federal data shows a quintupling of deaths among women due to prescription pain killers since 1999, climbing at a rate higher than men, with the gender gap narrowing.

More women die from these drugs than from homicide or cervical cancer. These deaths are not statistics. They are men and women who did not need to die and most likely did not need the narcotics.

Physicians who prescribe them casually and the companies that create and promote them aggressively should rethink their motives and their practices. It is easy to say yes to drugs. It is harder to listen with one’s heart and mind to the real pain that underlies many of these lost lives. Collectively we must find a different path. Read more…

47.608945-122.332015

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Email
  • More
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • Print

Tagged: Drug Abuse, Lifestyle and habits, Regulatory Issues, The Practice of Medicine 2 Comments

Previous Post
Next Post

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. J Kates says

    July 11, 2013 at 6:20 pm

    These are the same pts ( and their families) that demand pain meds, fake symptoms, and doctor shop.

    Reply
  2. MCNtalk says

    July 11, 2013 at 11:09 pm

    Perhaps this is the case, but isn’t that why we physicians are licensed and trained; to help protect our patients from their own bad decisions? And if one can doctor shop and find narcotics in the process for chronic pain, a contraindication for such drugs, should not those who prescribe operate at a higher standard?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • The Quality Divide: What Makes a Quality IME Physician?
  • The Quality Divide: Is Your Vendor Driving IME Excellence?
  • The Quality Divide: When and How to Request an IME?
  • April Clinic Calendars Are Available
  • MCN’s Client Portal Login Page is Changing

Archives

Footer


  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Quick Links

  • Services
  • Expertise
  • About MCN
  • Careers

Division Headquarters

MCN
1200 5th Ave., Ste. 650
Seattle, WA 98101

See all offices

Email Us

General Inquiries: info@mcn.com
Sales & Marketing: marketing@mcn.com

Call Us

206.343.6100
800.248.6269

© Copyright 2023 Mitchell International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap