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FDA Changes Course on Pain Management Policy

While we await a final autopsy findings on Prince's cause of death, People magazine reports that
he was being treated for addiction just prior to his demise.  Sadly, bad things happen to good people..and whether or not Prince's death is related to this issue, it brings the topic of addiction front and center.




The Washington Post recently reported that there were 52 deaths per day in 2014 due to opioids.  If you do the math, that amounts to almost 190,000 deaths per year!  The federal government has recently shown some movement in response to this issue...last month, the CDC released its recommendations for prescribers with respect to opioid usage and prescribing.  In the last couple of weeks, the FDA has chimed in. An FDA advisory panel has voted in favor of mandatory opioid prescribing training for physicians.

It's about time something is done. This problem has been ongoing for the last twenty years. There have been many deaths that could have been prevented. There have been far too many problems with opioid addiction, and heroin addiction as well.  It's time to stop the madness and move to a better course of action for those who are in pain.  They deserve better!

Sources: Washington Post; People; Geograph.org



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