Why in America today would the FDA approve a new opiate pain medication that has been deemed “heroin in a pill”? Prescription drug overdose deaths now surpass car accidents as the leading cause of unintentional deaths in the United States. 60% of drug overdoses are not from drugs like cocaine and heroin. They are from FDA approved prescription drug medications. Our country accounts for only 5% of the world’s population yet it consumes 84% of opiate medications.
With all those statistics the FDA introduces a new opiate pain medication. The name is Zohydro. This pill contains no acetaminophen like its counterpart, Percocet. It is straight hydrocodone. Andrew Kolodny, president of the advocacy group Physicians For Responsible Opioid Prescribing, says “It will kill people as soon as it’s released.” There have even been members of Congress and some state Attorney Generals who have urged the FDA to reconsider their approval of the drug. More than 40 experts also urged the FDA to pull its approval. You can read their letter HERE.
This country is in the midst of an epidemic. At Clearbrook, we provide treatment for painkiller addictions in alarming numbers. The problem really gets bad when people have become addicted to opiates and they can no longer get the pills, they then turn to heroin. They find that heroin is cheaper and packs a bigger punch.
Addiction does not discriminate either. In the past, we have written about our seniors getting addicted. People that have gone in to get medical procedures are winding up addicted. Our children are addicted. Anyone, anywhere, can increase this list.
The statistics also show that only one in ten get help for addiction. Sometimes due to lack of funding or denial. Clearbrook will remain on the firing line of treating opiate pain medication addictions. Please call our admissions department which is on call 24 hours a day.
