[NPInfo] Pain Medicine Use has Doubled...are we to blame?

[Sue Emmite]

I heard something like this on the news yesterday evening.  I responded to
the station and asked them to do further investigation before presenting a
one sided report.  Yes, we have people abusing drugs and the system that
supply them.  However, we have a horrible track record in treating patients
with acute, chronic, and terminal pain.  I read a research report several
years back that we had the worst track record in the industrialized nations.
(Don't ask because I don't remember the name of the study).  I have heard
nurses tell patients that had just had surgery that day that they should not
ask for so much pain medication because they would become addicted (contrary
to studies that show no addiction with acute surgical pain).  I have come on
behind these nurses and it has taken hours to get their post op pain under
control.  We have people living with chronic pain that just want some relief
to have "normal" activities.  We have terminal patients that have
ineffective pain control because "they might get hooked".  We have a very
poor track record.  Could it be that healthcare providers are becoming more
adept at controlling pain, or are we really producing a generation of
"junkies".  This is a problem that requires more than a surface response.
Celebrity cases get a great deal of publicity and they have made us more
aware of the drug problems facing some.  However, I believe these are still
in the minority compared to the ones that really need to have good control.
I just keep hoping there will be something show up on the market that will
be non narcotic and do a good job.  I know wishful thinking.  I remember
when every ER had a "headache box"  that had names of chronic drug seeking
patients.  There would be calls from one ER to another warning that so and
so was on the way over there and what we had given them.  (Haven't done that
for years.)  What needs fixing (IMHO) is a better method of triaging our
patients and that pain scale of 1-10 won't work.  Unfortunately I think this
involves more TIME and that is something that is in precious short supply
these days.

What does everyone else think?

Sue Emmite MSN RN FNP-C

On 8/21/07, mmhelgert46 at comcast.net <mmhelgert46 at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Posted on Mon, Aug. 20, 2007
> AP: Pain medicine use has nearly doubled
> By FRANK BASS
>
> Narcotic use and abuse in this country has nearly doubled...a sad
> statement and
> a social dilemma causing hardships in families, crowding our jails and
> more then
> likely the number one cause of much of the violence in our streets,
> schools etc.
> Whether we (as health care professionals) are to blame is a good question.
>
> The likes of Rush Limbaugh doctor-shopping for more narcotics flashing
> across
> the headlines is alarming...this is far more a social issue then a health
> care
> issue, as I see it.
>
> The pain (I think) we're trying to treat is psychic pain...Our young men
> and
> women going to war (WWII, Vietnam, Gulf Wars and this list goes on) is
> painful
> to watch. People unable to live their dreams because they can't earn
> enough to
> feed their families. War being glamorized....young adults the targets of
> much of
> this advertising by our military complex. Drive by shootings not unlike
> Bagdad
> in the streets of this country is painful. Problems in our government,
> schools, cities and states. People working
> longer hours to chase the illusive American Dream, painful to watch. These
> are
> social ills that can't be fixed with a pill, and the folks we see everyday
> are
> impacted by all of these issues, including us. There's a war going on
> right here
> in this country.
>
> The health care system in this country is broken...can't be fixed as it is
> right
> now...a few patch-up jobs here and there...but essentially it is broken.
> So,
> yes, in a way, we are to blame for not asking the tougher questions. I
> have no
> idea what the answer is, nor do I know what tough questions to ask...The
> health
> care system is overloaded as are many other systems such as social
> services...no
> place to send folks for the help they need...so we "fix" it with a pill,
> which
> turns out may not be the entire answer. I believe we (collectively) have
> the
> power to change this system and in turn bring pressure to bear on the
> other
> systems which impact health care in this country,
>
> Meg Helgert FNP
> Portland Oregon
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