We've written in the past about the country's growing problem with oxycodone abuse; Kentucky, Florida and West Virginia are three states that have been particularly hard-hit. Now comes a concerning report on the dramatic increase in painkiller use in our third-most populous state. From a New York Attorney General report (.pdf):
In New York, the number of prescriptions for all narcotic painkillers has increased from 16.6 million in 2007 to nearly 22.5 million in 2010 - prescriptions for hydrocodone have increased 16.7 percent, while those for oxycodone have increased an astonishing 82 percent. In New York City, the rate of prescription pain medication misuse among those age 12 or older increased by 40 percent from 2002 to 2009, with nearly 900,000 oxycodone prescriptions and more than 825,000 hydrocodone prescriptions filled in 2009.
The report goes on to outline the problems attached to these numbers - overdoses, addiction-related violence, increased government spending - and advocates for the establishment of a controlled substance reporting system. The ultimate goal would be to ensure these drugs are given to people "who truly need them."
Previously: Governors to Congress: Help us fight prescription-drug abuse, Florida’s prescription-drug problem, The Florida Governor’s questionable actions on drugs and How to combat prescription-drug abuse
Via Daily Intel
