San Diego, California – The state of California shows progress on pain medication policies.
Widespread Abuse of Pain Medications
Prescription pain medications have been abused in the recent years. Similarly, campaigns on how to stop such drug abuse have been advocated in many states. A report from the San Diego County Medical Examiner said that prescription drug overdoses seem to continue in three consecutive years now. Drug overdoses have been considered to be one of the top causes of accidental death within the county. An urgent care towards the issue have been called for, requiring assessment and necessary developments on pain medication policies.
Necessity of Pain Medications
On the other hand, pain management specialists have emphasized the necessity of pain medications. Although pain medications are abused in one way or another, these drugs are consumed by people who are struggling with chronic pain. These prescription drugs are likewise necessary for those who need palliative care. Specialists and even urgent care clinics find these drugs very difficult to prescribe due to risks of unnecessary suffering.
Balance of Dual Concerns
The Cancer Action Network (CAN) of the American Cancer Society had released a report card for every state, assessing how every state works on balancing the dual concerns on prescription drugs. The CAN had given the state of California a B-Plus on its pain medication policies. The letter grades from A to F were based on how each state’s policy enhances the access towards pain care, including the use of pain medications and minimizing potential treatment barriers at the same time. The CAN also reported that between 2012 and 2013, 24 states have adopted new policies in improving the access of effective pain management.
Call for Patient-Centered Solutions
Livestrong Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Doug Ulman said that the entire institution is very pleased with all the findings from CAN. People suffering from pain may need an urgent care clinic or pain medications to relieve their sufferings. Ulman claimed that he and his team will not stop until all 50 states are able to reach an A grade. He also added that responsible agencies will not rest until cancer survivors no longer suffer from lack of medication in regulating their pain. If pain medications are not accessible, these individuals may require a sort of urgent care near me facility for immediate treatment. Ulman also emphasized that together with partnerships, policymakers should ensure that pain medication policies will mirror patient-centered solutions.
