On May 3, 2017, Governor Rick Scott did something unprecedented in our state by declaring the opioid epidemic a public health emergency.   Our federal government has been fighting this "drug war" for many years and this step is just the latest in a series to move toward a lasting solution.

In 2015, Florida had almost 3,900 documented deaths related to opioids.  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that prescription opioids are medications used to treat moderate-to-severe pain and often prescribed following surgery or injury, or for health conditions such as cancer. However, in recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the acceptance and use of prescription opioids for the treatment of chronic, non-cancer pain, such as back pain or osteoarthritis, despite serious risks and the lack of evidence about their long-term effectiveness.  Medications that fall into this class include Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Morphine, Hydromorphone, Fentanyl, Methadone and others.  Some of the risks include physical dependence, drowsiness, dizziness, drug interactions with other medications, confusion, depression and many others.  And, of course, addiction and even overdose as stated above.

There has been a multi-faceted approach to trying to solve this crisis, that includes education to physicians about the dangers and risks of prescribing these medications, changes to state laws to limit prescribing of some of these medications to a one week supply for new patients, changes to drug plan formularies to include more layers of approval before a patient can receive opioids, and others.  Also, to ensure that patient who do have pain are adequately treated guidelines have 

been issued to help distinguish between acute (short term) and chronic pain and which medications are the "best practice" for each type of pain.  Prescribers are also encouraged to have patients pursue non-drug therapies such as physical therapy, massage, relaxation techniques, acupuncture and others. All of these tactics should help start to decrease the overall prescribing of prescription opioids.

However, that is only half of the story.  The reason we have a crisis is that many patients have become addicted to prescription and illegal opioids.   Fortunately, a positive outcome of Governor Scott declaring this emergency is that our first responders will now have access to an opioid reversal agent called naloxone ( brand name, Narcan).  Many counties in our state are securing this life-saving medication to be available in the vehicles of all emergency responders.  This will undoubtedly save the lives of patients who have accidently overdosed, but also, potentially of a first responder who has unwittingly come into contact with one of these powerful and deadly chemicals.  Other monies have been allocated by the federal government for mental health counseling and treatment centers to allow more access by patients who are seeking to treat their addiction.

In summary, the state of Florida has done much to address this crisis, but it will not go away quickly.  Pharmacists are on the front line to prescribe and dispense naloxone to at risk patients and their caregivers.  

Please ask your pharmacist for more information or call us at Bay Street Pharmacy if we can help answer your questions, 772-589-2043.