The supply of almost every Schedule II opioid manufactured in the U.S. will be reduced 25% or more in 2017, as required by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). DEA expects the new quota will be sufficient to meet the estimated medical scientific research, industrial and export needs for the year, and for the maintenance of reserve stocks. Affected drugs include oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl etc. The new rule aims to balance the production of controlled substances needed for legitimate use against the production of an excessive amount of these potentially harmful substances that are often diverted to illicit trafficking and use.

The context behind this rule is that chronic pains currently afflicts 100 millions, nearly one out of three Americans, and the country spend over $600 million on healthcare costs for chronic pain. But the country has 6.4 million people abusing psychotherapeutic medications, of which almost 4 million are abusing painkillers. Next to 329,000 people abusing heroin, the opiate problem is epidemic. The treatment of chronic pain has created a new disease.

Some pain physicians fear that the reduction in supplement will force patients to live in chronic pain. On one hand, patients who are abusing often don’t get the addiction treatment they need, and on the other hand, patients aren’t getting properly treated for their pain. Reducing the supply of opioids will leave many patients in unnecessary pain. Although a few bad actors may deliberately overprescribe, patients often are in a pain that it is hard for doctors to know how to handle them in any other ways. But some may be too trusting of their patients. Doctors more likely prescribe pain medication when they believe that the patients are not drug-seeking. It is definitely not something that doctors or health agency can check. Moreover, a 2012 study of Washington state’s opioid dosing guideline, implemented in  2007, suggests that in some cases, lower doses may help patients to potentially avoid fatal accidents. A study showed a 50% decline in opioid-related deaths among injured workers, from 2009 to 2010.

With the new falling quotas, medical experts further advises that pain and withdrawal symptoms can be minimized by slowly reducing the dosage over times while using nonopiate comfort medications and other modalities. Yet doctors warn that insurance companies may implement dosage-ceiling limits based on imposed state legislation, without allowing sufficient time for doctors to discuss alternative options with patients for reducing the opiate dosage. To deal with the new quota, the  doctor should be better trained and advised to take continuing medical education credits on the subject of addiction.

For example, earlier this year, the CDC released guidelines for prescribing opioids. These include the recommendations that opioids should not be the first line treatment and that doses and duration should be limited. Yet what we need is a much clear and detailed protocol in treating patients with chronic pain to deal with the new falling quotas of opioid production.

Pain is real.  Despite these changes, The Poirier Law Firm’s goal is to   make sure that all of our injured workers promptly and efficiently , receive  his/her  necessary medical treatment.  So if you or a family member have been hurt at work and have any issues with promptly receiving medical treatment,   call Poirier Law today for help and for a free consultation. The Poirier Law Firm has represented injured workers for over 16  years. You deserve to have a zealous advocate in your corner!