Opioid Prescriptions Outnumber Mohave County Population An opioid for every citizen, or probably more. How does that sound? Alarming, isn’t it? In Arizona’s Mohave County, the number crunching not just reflects the sorry state of the prescription drug crisis, but also mirrors the tragedy that the menace continues in spite of the tough measures. The problem of over prescription seems to be more conspicuous in the rural areas than the urban sectors, where the law enforcement agencies have cracked down on this malpractice. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 127.5 opioid prescriptions were dispersed per 100 residents in 2016. It was much more than Arizona’s average rate of prescription of 70.2 prescriptions per 100 people and that of the national average of 66.5 percent. The Mohave County stats is mind-boggling because the number of prescriptions for painkillers has gone down 10 percent in the last decade in Arizona. Despite a marked decline in the prescription rate in the state, other statistics suggest that the prescription rate for painkillers continued to increase since 2007 in rural counties, such as Mohave County, La Paz and Cochise. Therefore, painkillers like oxycodone are commonly available across Mohave County. Measures against opioid crisis in Arizona Due to increased number of opioid overdose deaths in Arizona – 790 deaths in 2016 – Governor Doug Ducey had declared a statewide public health emergency in June 2017. In his state address in 2018, he said, “In Arizona, opioid use, overdose and deaths have increased at an alarming level over recent years. Last year, the state experienced the highest number of deaths in more than a decade. It’s a national epidemic and an Arizona crisis, and it’s one we must address with care and urgency.”
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This is evident from the data released by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), which provides data on a real-time basis. Its latest update includes 942 suspected opioid deaths, 6,080 suspected opioid overdosing cases and 606 instances of neonatal abstinence (NAS) babies. It suggests that 8,899 naloxone doses were dispensed and 3,978 naloxone dosages were administered to those in need. The ADHS also provides information about the medication dispensed. Ever since opioid crisis was declared a statewide emergency, there has been a marked increase in the resources for addressing critical issues, such as emergency and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the case of an overdosing accident. As a result, 1,200 first responders were trained in the handling of opioid antagonist naloxone, used for reversing drug overdose. The state also disbursed more than 5,100 naloxone kits to law enforcement. Also in the pipeline is the Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act, a bill that seeks to address opioid epidemic by making restrictions, providing fund for addiction treatment, distributing naloxone to the law authorities, etc. While seeking approval for the bill, the governor’s office had mentioned the instance of four doctors in the Mohave County who had written prescriptions for a whopping 6 million pills in a year. Though these doctors were not named, the governor made it clear that such people would be taken to the court through the provisions in the bill. Some other measures underlined by the bill to check the epidemic are:
Ensuring appropriate prescribing practices. Developing guidelines for educating medical providers about their responsibility. Expanding the patient’s access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Ensuring distribution of naloxone for preventing overdoses. Pursuing an all-hands-on-deck approach, which includes involving not only the victims of the opioid crisis, but also the law enforcement agencies, the community leaders and the ADHS.
Recovery from drug abuse The government of Arizona has been earnest about its intention to check the ongoing opioid crisis. This is evident from the well-thought moves like the proposed Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act. However, drug control is not just government’s responsibility. Each individual can contribute in his/her own way. If a loved one is suffering from prescription drug abuse, contact the Arizona Prescription Abuse Helpline to access information related to the appropriate treatment options available for the problem. Call at our 24/7 helpline number 866-692-3563 to know about the finest treatment centers for prescription drug addiction in Arizona.
www.arizonaprescriptionabusehelpline.com