Building Strategic Options

Accidental drug overdoses have increased dramatically over the last decade, with prescription opioid pain medications contributing the most to the increase. There has been a concomitant increase in the availability of these important medications. Survey instruments indicate that pain relievers are used for non medical use by at least 2% of the U.S. population, and each year more individuals initiate prescription drug abuse than any other illicit substance. Friends and relatives and individual physicians have been identified as the major source of these potent narcotics. Many recent studies have identified factors that increase the risk of overdose and overdose death with these medications. Applying this research, there are several Federal initiatives underway to reduce prescription drug diversion. In addition, other jurisdictions have implemented measures to reduce overdose deaths, with successful outcomes. The initiatives involve prescriber, dispenser, consumer education, and community outreach, together with expanded access to substance abuse treatment approaches. Nick Reuter will describe prescription overdose trends, prevention overdose strategies and potential Federal policy implications of naloxone protocol implementation.