Painkiller abuse more rampant in Oklahoma than any other state

[expertzx]

Alot of the problem is with doctors that are prescribing it too freely.

 

[RidgeHunter]

Don't you eventually get immune to it? I had them increase the strength on my refill yesterday because the stuff I had been on just wasn't cutting it.

I wouldn't call it "immune". You can build up a tolerance to opioids rather quickly and it takes more and stronger to get the same effect.

 

[Stan Upchurch]

I sure wish my pain killers worked better than they did. I guess you have to conclude by that stat. ,thet we in Oklahoma, are either in pain, or are a pain!

 

[gl55]

I could only get 1 stinkin refill of Lortab after open heart surgery. Doc told me to use Tylenol when those ran out.

 

[MLR]

Pardon me if I am skeptical of these findings. I remember that an number of years ago when every State was looking to enact Meth legislation their State was leading the Nation in meth labs. It seemed that every State wishing to show a need for the Legislation had a study in their pocket that showed those facts.
It would not surprise me to find at least ten more States that are currently leading the nation in painkiller abuse.

Michael

 

[Billybob]

Maybe we should arrest the dealers instead of the users, the system in use should help identify both.

Drugs Agents: State's Top Doctor Shopper Arrested

[The OBN said the state's prescription monitoring system identified Simmons as the state's No. 1 drug seeker.

The PMP system tracks prescriptions for certain pain medication filled at Oklahoma pharmacies and sends the information to OBN.]

http://www.koco.com/news/21998916/detail.html

 

[Billybob]

Or is it another case of a system allowed to police itself, how can drugs disappear from a pharmacy inventory and not be noted?

Pharmacy tech arrested

[Anson told police he saw Harris give an employee of the pharmacy $100 “and in return received two bottles of liquid and two bottles of pills,” Jones said. “Anson stated ... that (Harris) called the liquid ‘Lean’ and told him the pills were Lortab and Xanax.”]

http://theadanews.com/x1202028189/Pharmacy-tech-arrested

 

[JB Books]

I knew it was a big problem, but why are we the worst in the nation??

http://www.stwnewspress.com/local/x1225455763/Painkiller-abuse-more-rampant-in-Oklahoma-than-any-other-state

We are worst in the nation at most things. However all our Legislature can focus on are gun and abortion bills. Your children will thank you.

 

[HMFIC]

Part of the problem is a lack of treatment options.

On any given day, 600 to 900 Oklahomans are on a waiting list for a bed in a publicly funded residential substance abuse center.

About 160,000 Oklahomans need treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, according to the state mental health department. The figure includes an estimated 20,000 teenagers.

“In our system, we have enough resources to serve about one-third of the Oklahomans who financially qualify for our services and need help,” White said. “So on any given day, two-thirds of Oklahomans who need help, and qualify, can’t get it.”

^ This is your answer and basis for the article. Evidently someone wants some more taxpayer money to "treat" this issue.

 

[HMFIC]

We are worst in the nation at most things. However all our Legislature can focus on are gun and abortion bills. Your children will thank you.

You want the legislature to create more laws to address this issue?

I'm sure that will help. /sarcasm