Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyers: Opioid Prescriptions at an All-Time High
October 17, 2016Pain management is an issue that is garnering a lot of attention recently, as the problem of opioid addiction in our country continues to grow. Doctors prescribe these drugs in an effort to provide effective pain management for their patients. Unfortunately, many doctors prescribe more than what the patient really needs. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), doctors should prescribe no more than three days’ worth of a prescription opioid. Maryland medical malpractice lawyers report that this overprescribing of opioids often leads to serious problems due to the highly addictive properties of these drugs.
This pattern of overprescribing has created a new wave of concerns, including the following:
- Doctors do not look at the big picture: The majority of doctors believe opioids are the only effective way to treat pain. Unfortunately, they do not consider the fact that the side effects can be much more serious. According to the CDC, prescription drug overdoses have been on a steady incline over the past 11 years.
- Patient expectations influence prescribing habits: Physicians tend to prescribe opioids based on what they think their patient expects them to do. As a result, they do not always consider alternative therapies based on the benefits versus the risks of the treatment options available.
Individuals with Chronic Pain Should Know the Alternatives
You are your own best advocate. If you do not want to take opioids because of your concern over how they will affect your body, speak with your doctor about other pain management alternatives. There is actually no evidence that the long-term use of opioids is effective at treating chronic pain. In fact, according to the National Safety Council, the most effective method of managing pain is to take one Extra-Strength acetaminophen with one ibuprofen.
Maryland Medical Malpractice Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Represent Patients Addicted to Opioid Pain Medication
If you have developed a dependency on prescription pain medication and you think your doctor is responsible for overprescribing an addictive opioid, you are urged to contact the Maryland medical malpractice lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. We will conduct a thorough investigation and determine who is responsible for your pain and suffering. We will seek the maximum financial compensation that you deserve. For a free case review, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent victims of medical malpractice throughout Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Parkville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.
