| WKSR: News |
|
New Law Hopes To Curb Overdose Deaths
Posted on January 03, 2013
Tennessee is ranked in the top 1 percent of states that sell prescription pain medication. It’s also in the nation’s top 10 for overdose deaths.
A growing unhealthy population base suffering the effects of obesity, diabetes and other related conditions that morph into chronic pain has physicians calling for a new prescription to monitor the dispensing of opiates and controlled substances.
It has been referred to as a painkiller epidemic, but a new law for 2013 hopes to curb prescription pill overdoses in 2013.
Health officials in Tennessee say drug overdoses are the single largest cause of accidental death in the state. In 2011, more than 1,000 people died from drug overdoses in Tennessee. The new law is designed to change all of that.
With the new changes all doctors will have to check the prescription drug database before prescribing medications like pain killers and valium. Pharmacists will also have to step up the frequency they update their database.
Patients who doctor shop will have a more difficult time “Shopping” for pain medications because the state health commissioner says the state is working on an agreement with other states to share information.
The state hopes the changes will send up more red flags for doctors and pharmacists who will be more aware of people who are tricking the system.
|
|
