Drug overdose deaths have become an epidemic in the United States. More than 30,000 people die per year from drug overdoses and a majority of these overdoses stem from prescription drugs. According to a journal in the US National Library of Medicine, opioids are among the most effective treatments for pain. In Ohio, if a patient suffers from moderate to severe pain, the doctor has a choice to make. Does he or she prescribe opioid medication or choose a different treatment option.
The answer is not black and white. These pain pills are harmful if patients or doctors abuse them, but can be effective when properly administered. Doctors know the inherent risks of painkillers. They know that they are addictive and hence should practice care when prescribing the pills to patients. In addition, most of these pills are dangerous even when accidentally mixed the wrong way. Doctors have an obligation to inform patients of these risks.
Often, if a person has chronic pain, doctors may question very little when it comes to prescribing them opioids. Doctors may be enablers by feeding an addict’s addiction with frivolous prescriptions, according to Psychology Today. Doctors of celebrities are prone to ignoring ethics for the sake of greed. This has led to the deaths of many celebrities. It can also happen to regular people and may lead to opioid addiction. There are penalties for doctors who do not practice ethics in painkiller prescriptions are high. They range from medical malpractice suits to criminal prosecution. Medical negligence and prescription drugs are a bad combination that hurts many Americans.