Prescription abuse an epidemic

Every once in awhile, you encounter something that stops you in your tracks.
Consider this:
“A doctor from Indiana University’s department of emergency medicine testified recently that in 2010 there was enough hydrocodone prescribed to patients in Indiana to medicate every U.S. adult.”
That’s from a story Sunday by the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette’s Niki Kelly, and if it doesn’t give you pause, it should.
In the words of Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, abuse of prescription pain medication in this state is at epidemic levels.
Our guess is that local pharmacists and those in law enforcement would agree.
Jay County Prosecutor Wes Schemenaur, for instance, has made it clear on more than one occasion that reports in the newspaper of home break-ins where prescription drugs were stolen should be taken with a grain of salt.
In many cases — not all, but many — what’s really happening is that the person who had a legitimate prescription for pain medications like OxyContin has sold the stuff to someone else.
To get a fresh prescription, it’s necessary to report a “theft.”
Pharmacists, doctors, and law enforcement are struggling with a problem that most of us don’t even know exists.
The good news is that Zoeller is focused on the pain medication abuse problem and that some serious lawmakers in the Indiana General Assembly are trying to craft solutions.
The bad news is that there are other members of the legislature whose antipathy toward government regulations may get in the way of addressing a serious problem.
But this isn’t a philosophical discussion about the role of government.
It’s much more important.
If you doubt that, we suggest you re-read the third paragraph of this editorial. — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]