The new YRBS data plus the CDC's Injury Center's recently released issue brief “Unintentional Drug Poisoning in the United States” highlight a serious public health problem with nonmedical use of prescription drugs. The issue brief points out that drug overdose rates have risen steadily since 1999, primarily due to prescription drugs. The “Unintentional Drug Poisoning in the United States” issue brief recommends that healthcare providers:
- Use opioid medications for acute or chronic pain only after determining that alternative therapies do not deliver adequate pain relief. The lowest effective dose of opioids should be used.
- In addition to behavioral screening and use of patient contracts, consider random, periodic, targeted urine testing for opioids and other drugs for any patient <65 years old with noncancer pain who is being treated with opioids for >6 weeks.
- If a patient's dosage has increased to ≥120 morphine milligram equivalents per day without substantial improvement in pain and function, seek a consult from a pain specialist.
- Do not prescribe long-acting or controlled-release opioids for acute pain.
- Periodically request a report from your state prescription drug monitoring program on the prescribing of opioids to your patients by other providers.
For more information visit www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2010/s100603.htm.