Report Reveals Role of Doctors in Painkiller Abuse Trends

Malibu, CA (PRWEB) April 16, 2014

A three-year study of prescription painkillers published March 3rd in the JAMA Internal Medicine revealed that individuals with the highest risk for overdose obtain medication from a doctor's prescription.

The use of opioid painkillers for non-medical reasons has grown substantially over the last decade.

Some of the prescription opioids that are misused include OxyContin, Vicodin, Codeine, and morphine.

Detailed findings of the study also showed that painkiller misuse is broken down into several key categories:

   •  27% begin with a patient's own prescription
   •  26% obtain painkillers from a friend or family member for free
   •  23% purchase from family members or friends
   •  15% purchase from a dealer

"This study shows that doctors should act responsibly when dispensing prescription-strength painkillers," said Pax Prentiss, CEO of Passages Addiction Treatment Centers. "Our clinical staff has found that individuals dealing with extreme stress or a chemical imbalance are at particular risk for becoming dependent on drugs or alcohol."

Individuals who use prescription opioids non-medically are also 400% more likely than the average person to purchase medication from a drug dealer or other stranger.
The study encouraged monitoring of drug dispensing, drug overdose tracking, public education, and using medical claims data to identify improper prescription of painkillers.

At Passages Malibu - Addiction Ends Here™

About Passages Malibu & Passages Ventura:

Father and son team Chris and Pax Prentiss founded Passages Malibu in 2001. Its second location, Passages Ventura, first opened its doors in 2009. The two drug, alcohol, and prescription medication abuse treatment centers offer an alternative to the 12 step/AA model of addiction treatment by utilizing a holistic program that focuses on the underlying issues of substance dependency, rather than attributing addiction to an incurable disease.

Both Passages Malibu and Passages Ventura accept insurance and each have earned the coveted Joint Commission (JCAHO) accreditation, which has only been given to 6% of the nation's behavioral health treatment programs.

Passages Malibu was named the #1 treatment center in the world by Healthcare Global, one of the "Most Luxurious Places to Dry Out" by Forbes magazine, and the Huffington Post recently acknowledged Passages as a center that "caters to a high-end crowd, with many CEOs, entrepreneurs and high-powered professionals among its clients."

The co-founders are also authors of an acclaimed series of addiction treatment books, including their groundbreaking, flagship title, The Alcoholism & Addiction Cure.

For general inquiries about treatment, contact: 866-233-1753.

For media inquiries, contact:

press(at)passagesmalibu(dot)com

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