• 03
  • February
    2012

Pharmacists have a term for physicians who over prescribe painkillers such as opiates to their patients. They are affectionately known as "candy doctors". While it may seem humorous to some, quite often the outcome is not.

Narcotic painkillers are prescribed at epidemic levels in the U.S. While most pain management cases are legitimate, the problem is addiction potential. One in ten individuals become drug addicts. Currently, the United States is experiencing some of the highest levels of drug addiction than at any time in its history. And while many drugs that were popular in the 1970′s are no longer as commonly abused today, the numbers are still staggering overall. For example, since 1990, the number of individuals who take prescription drugs illegally is believed to have risen by over 500 percent.

Prescription painkillers are the third most abused drug behind alcohol and marijuana. While there is a familial and genetic link to addiction, the disease of addiction itself is often triggered in prescription narcotics. It becomes very difficult for a patient to quit painkillers even after the pain itself resolves. If a patient is not weaned off of chronic pain prescriptions under medical supervision, the withdrawals can be painful.

The amount of people addicted to narcotics is staggering here in the U.S. Once the patient has been cut off from narcotics and if they have addiction potential, they will quite often do anything to seek out the drug including criminal acts such as fake prescriptions (written and call-ins), stealing or burglary and faking injuries with physicians.

If you or a loved one has been hurt by prescription narcotics, call The Venardi Law Firm for a free consult.