A study conducted by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that at least one in four people who are addicted to painkillers get their supply from their close friends and relatives.
To gather data for this study, Dr. Leonard Paulozzi and his team analyzed health surveys. These nationwide surveys asked the participants about their use of pain killers, especially those that contain oxycodone and hydrocodone. These substances are found in Vicodin, OxyContin and are considered as members of the optoids, a substance which resembles opium.
Their analysis revealed that those who are abusing painkillers often get prescriptions from multiple doctors. One in four respondents stated that he has used painkillers obtained through a physician's prescriptions. Similarly, one in four also stated that their supply of painkillers were from friends or family members. Those who get their supply from dealers only accounts for 15 percent.
Dr. Paulozzi told the Associated Press that these painkiller abusers "are probably using at much greater volumes and simply asking a friend for a pill now and then is not going to be sufficient".
Paulozzi also noted that the abuse of painkillers which belongs to the opioid family has remained stagnant for years.. However, data from CDC reflects that overdose deaths due to the abuse of painkillers increased by 300 percent from 1999 to 2010. In 2010, those who died due to overdose on painkillers accounted for 16,000 and by contrast, overdose deaths due to heroin and cocaine were less than 8,000.
The study did not note whether the supply coming from friends and relatives were from their own prescriptions or if they have access to these painkillers through other means.
The researchers recommend that doctors should ensure that there are no anomalies in prescribing painkillers to their patients.
This study was published in the March 3 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.
