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Are Opioids the Best Way to Treat Chronic Pain?

Opioid overuse is America’s “silent epidemic,” affecting far too many of the roughly eight million people on opioid painkillers.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the CDC says overprescribing is to blame.  "Every single day, 46 Americans die from an overdose of prescription opioid painkillers like Vicodin, Oxycontin or Methadone," he said. "These drugs are commonly prescribed in every community, and a surge in prescriptions has been the main force of this epidemic."

Yet the National Institutes of Health says that opioids are often the first treatment doctors choose to relieve a the discomfort of the 100 million Americans who suffer from chronic pain.In 2012, doctors wrote 259 million prescriptions for opioids, a big jump from the 79 million prescriptions given in 1991. 

More people are in pain than ever before and doctors desperate to help are responding with more prescriptions, even though there's little evidence that long-term use ofopioidsimproves the lives of people living with chronic pain. But most of us are not aware of other options, including the doctors who prescribe.

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John Dankosky and Chion Wolf contributed to this show.

Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. She served as the Senior Producer for 'The Colin McEnroe Show' for several years before stepping down in 2021 and returning to her previous career as a registered nurse. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows.

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