According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 130 people dying from opioid-related drug overdoses every day.
Surgeries. Sports-related injuries. The aftermath of a car crash. An unfortunate fall. You throw your back out. Injuries and accidents are a regular part of life, and the last thing most people worry about is getting addicted to their prescription painkillers … until now.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 130 people dying from opioid-related drug overdoses every day. So, the word is getting out about just how addictive opioid prescriptions are. The trouble is, what can be a precursor to other addictions including heroin are being doled out regularly for situations that don’t really fit prescription painkillers’ purpose.
What was designed for short-term postoperative pain relief or end-of-life illness such as cancer is often a quick fix for back pain, headaches — issues where meds like hydrocodone, oxycodone, Vicodin won’t help long term. And when the euphoric freedom from pain isn’t felt, more and more people are ditching the recommended dosage and reaching for an extra pill or pills.
Considering how prescription pills are often expensive or hard to get, even on the street, users may opt for a cheaper, readily available alternative like heroin once the bottle is empty. In fact, it’s estimated that 80% of heroin users began by abusing prescription opioids.