Opioid Misuse and the Undertreatment of Pain: Striking a Balance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15173/m.v1i26.944Abstract
In June of this year, Health Canada put forth its proposal to
render high-risk drugs tamper-resistant.1 This would entail
chemical modifications designed to increase resistance to
crushing, chewing, cutting, and dissolution of the tablets.
The primary targets of this policy were prescription opioid
medications used to manage acute and chronic pain. Recent
studies have demonstrated an alarming prevalence of the
misuse of these drugs. In Ontario alone, opioid medication
abuse is responsible for the death of 1 in 170 people each year.2
An additional 1 in 8 deaths in individuals aged 25-34 can be
attributed to the same cause.2 Although some acknowledge
this tentative step taken by the federal government to address
the rapidly escalating drug crisis as promising, many feel that
this action is insufficient. Moreover, while more can be done to
address the issue at hand, it is essential to avoid the stigmatization
of administering narcotics. Otherwise, patients who truly need
these drugs would be deprived of a satisfactory quality of life.
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