Crackdown on over-prescribing opioids drops overdose deaths

A subsequent drop in the number of overdose deaths have addiction counselors cautiously optimistic that the new measures could be helping.

OHIO DOCTORS ARE PUTTING AMAJOR DENT IN THE NUMBER OFOPIOIDS PRESCRIBED TO THEIRPATIENTS.

THAT'S THANKS TO THESTATES CRACKDOWN OVER RECENTYEARS ON HOW THEY PRESCRIBEAND REPORT DRUG ABUSE.

9 ONYOUR SIDES WHITNEY MILLERSPOKE WITH A GROUP THAT SAYSTHERE IS STILL WORK TO BEDONE.Whitney on cam: Since 2010 thenumber of Ohioans dying fromprescription drug overdoseswas climbing, but that allchanged in 2018 when thenumbers went from Nearly 900to 529.

That has drugaddiction counselorsoptimistically cautious.

PKG:Amy Parker 14 years old whenshe got addicted toprescription medication."I had7 knee surgeries and with eachsurgery I was prescribed painmedicine and i was prescribeda month at a time for severalmonths."At such a young ageshe says those prescriptionscaused an opiate addiction."At the end of mactive addiction I was buyingblack tar heroine from theMexican drug cartel." Parkerhad an overdose in 2012 - butshe survived now she's helpspeople on a similar path.Working at Brightview as acommunity outreach manager."That allows them to be ableto have an advocate that isnot a doctor or counselor butstrictly there because of thatsimilar lived experience." In2018, the number of people whodied of a prescriptionoverdose in Hamilton countydropped more than 50 percent.Parker believes that could bedue to the states crackdown onopioid prescriptions."Its onething to have a surgery andhave a prescription for 30days.

That can create anaddiction quickly.

It'sdifferent to have a surgeryand have a prescription forthree to five days.

That'sable to be managed a loteasier."But its not a completefix - she says prescriptionabusers have found other waysto feed the habit.

"it cancreate a negative impact whichcan leadthem to go out intothe street and seek illicitsubstances like heroine orfentanyl."Tag: if you orsomeone you know is strugglingAmy suggests looking intotreatmenoptions.

You canreach out to the people hereat bright view or otheraddiction recovery resourcesIn walnut hills Whitney miller9 on your side.