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Aug
4

Opioids – the cost of the drug isn’t the problem.

http://khn.org/news/opioid-dependence-leads-to-tsunami-of-medical-services-study-finds/?utm_campaign=KFF-2016-The-Latest&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=32453515&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–R56ID_OnOVWjPZWVWUZ34PdboXT6Rx5x0F_qrHGLoAkd8YE0i7kZZ-AsE8M0F2vb5iMU58twYkIaV66wZWIWv_Q_BhN37G-VZ3Mc0ACGTbIhT8xQ&_hsmi=32453515

That’s the headline for a study that you – dear reader – need to read.

Here’s why – “Medical services for people with opioid dependence diagnoses skyrocketed more than 3,000 percent between 2007 and 2014.”

And that’s for privately insured people.  Based on research covering 150 million insureds, the report indicates the problem is particularly severe for younger men (19 – 35 year olds in particular).

We’ve all hypersensitive to the societal and personal cost of opioids, the Fair Health research is proof positive that the dollar cost of the drug itself is the least of the cost issues; dependency is strongly associated with much higher utilization of drug testing, overdose treatment, office visits and (my assumption) higher usage of other drugs intended to address side effects of opioids.

What does this mean for you?

Three thousand percent means you can’t afford to NOT address opioid addiction and dependency.

 


One thought on “Opioids – the cost of the drug isn’t the problem.”

  1. With the problems caused by opioids, perhaps it is time to give Sativex a try. This is a drug from GW Pharma that is made from cannabinoids. It is supposed to have better pain relieving properties than opioids, is not addictive, and costs much less. It is approved for use in about 15 countries. It cannot be much worse if at all.

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Joe Paduda is the principal of Health Strategy Associates

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