Question

What is the solution to the problem of the abuse of pain medications? Use references to defend response.

Answer 1

• Education

A crucial first step in tackling the problem of prescription drug abuse is to raise awareness through the education of parents, youth, patients, and healthcare providers. Although there have been great strides in raising awareness about the dangers of using illegal drugs, many people are still not aware that the misuse or abuse of prescription drugs can be as dangerous as the use of illegal drugs, leading to addiction and even death. They should be aware of the dangers of the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs.

• Educating healthcare providers about prescription drug abuse will promote awareness of this growing problem among prescribers so they will not over-prescribe the medication necessary to treat minor conditions. This, in turn, will reduce the amount of unused medication sitting in medicine cabinets in homes across the country.
• Enlist all stakeholders to support and promote an evidence-based public education campaign on the appropriate use, secure storage, and disposal of prescription drugs, especially controlled substances. Engage local anti-drug coalitions, and other organizations (chain pharmacies, community pharmacies, boards of pharmacies, boards of medicine) to promote and disseminate public education materials and to increase awareness of prescription drug misuse and abuse. (ONDCP/CDC/FDA/DEA/IHS/ED/SAMHSA/DOD/VA/EPA)
• Require manufacturers, through the Opioid Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS), to develop effective educational materials for patients on the appropriate use and disposal of opioid pain relievers. (FDA/ONDCP/SAMHSA) • Working with private-sector groups, develop an evidence-based media campaign on prescription drug abuse, targeted to parents, in an effort to educate them about the risks associated with prescription drug abuse and the importance of secure storage and proper disposal of prescription drugs (including through public alerts or other approaches to capture the attention of busy parents). (ONDCP/ONC)
• Research and Development: • Expedite research, through grants, partnerships with academic institutions, and priority New Drug Application review by FDA, on the development of treatments for pain with no abuse potential as well as on the development of abuse-deterrent formulations (ADF) of opioid medications and other drugs with abuse potential. (NIDA/FDA)
• Continue advancing the design and evaluation of epidemiological studies to address changing patterns of abuse. (CDC/FDA/NIDA)
• Provide guidance to the pharmaceutical industry on the development of abuse-deterrent drug formulations and on post-market assessment of their performance. (FDA)

refereces:

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsr1601307?af=R&rss=currentIssue&

https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/ondcp/policy-and-research/rx_abuse_plan.pdf