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DrugScreening.org


 
Sales of Narcotic Painkillers Up 90 Percent in Decade
August 20, 2007

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News Summary

Americans are buying 90 percent more painkillers containing codeine, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone and meperidine than they did in 1997, according to data from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The Associated Press reported Aug. 20 that each year Americans buy 200,000 pounds of these drugs -- enough to give 300 mg of painkillers to every person in the country. Most of the reported increase came from sales of oxycodone, the active ingredient in OxyContin.

Some of the drugs are diverted for illicit use. But the trend also is due to an aging population, changes in pain-management philosophy among doctors, and a massive marketing campaign by drug companies.

Much of the increase occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Since then, DEA crackdowns have led some doctors to shy away from prescribing powerful painkillers, and sales have increased only about 2 percent annually over the past four years. 

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Donald B Parsons on 11 Sep 08 08:13 AM EDT
I agree with you DID its just that I'm against BIG PHARM paying millions of $$$ into PACs to ensure that the legislators that side with their points of views stay in office or become elected to office. All the while paying as much if not more to keep a benign natural plant that does A LOT of the same things their opiates do illegal. Whatever works to insure the best possible quality of life as possible even if it is just in your head. The human mind has miraculous healing capabilities if you only believe.

Posted by DID on 08 Sep 08 08:44 AM EDT
The sad fact is that many doctor's turn to these drugs as a last resort to pain management because nothing else works. These meds are the last hope for many people with injuries, age degeneration, and diseases/conditions that cause unremiting pain. Living with pain, without painkillers, is harder on the body than the dependence on opiates is, let alone the issue of quality of life. Yes, the politics and corporate dollars push for more sales, but don't forget the population these drugs are intended for. If someone in your family was in intolerable pain, wouldn't you want the doctor to help them with medication? Yes more regulating is needed, but don't overdo it to the point doctors quit using these meds when actually needed. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Posted by Dwayne Polidori on 08 Sep 08 08:18 AM EDT
Amen Donald you hit it rite on the nose.But I think the FDA are the pushers!

Posted by Donald B Parsons on 05 Sep 08 03:23 PM EDT
"A massive marketing campaign by drug companies." This is BIG PHARM (The BIG MAN/ DEALER) supplying the smaller dealer with samples of their product(doctors and physcian assistants) who tell the user (patients) which drug to get from which suppliers (pharmacies). All done under the disillusion that because a drug is "legal" it must be SAFE or Why would the FDA be approving them? Right? BIG $$$$$$$ greases many palms.

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