LANSING, Mich. (WSYM) - The growing use of methamphetamine has led states to make it more difficult to buy medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Now we're seeing the opioid epidemic making it more difficult for honest patients to get painkillers for legitimate problems. FOX 47's Marcus Dash explains.
One way to nip the opioid problem in the bud is by having fewer of them out there. That's why the state's licensing and regulatory agency put out new recommendations for when doctors and dentists should prescribe painkillers.
"Maybe they don't need 30 or 60 or 90 days worth of pain meds, maybe its only 15 post-surgery," said LARA's Kim Gaedeke.
Karlyn Beavers has Crohn's disease and she's glad the recommendations aren't requirements. She thinks doctors should be able to make a judgment call when prescribing pain meds.
"Some people can take a few pain meds and knock em out and then you have some people where their metabolism doesn't break it down as fast and they'd need a lot more," said Beavers.
Another recommendation made by the commission is to explore alternative forms of pain relief. Like using over-the-counter medicines. Beavers says they don't always work and other forms of pain relief can be pricey.
"I do acupuncture and dry needling, but that comes out of my pocket because my insurance company won't pay for that," said Beavers.
Nobody expects the recommendations to solve the opioid crisis. The state just sees them as another way to get doctors to have conversations with their patients instead of automatically writing a prescription.
Over-the-counter pain meds can have side effects especially if you use them too often. Earlier this week we told you about a study showing overusing ibuprofen can cause stomach ulcers and other problems.
