Why are so many Americans addicted to opioids

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The United States is the undisputed world leader in taking opioid drugs. For every million Americans, there are approximately 50 thousands of doses per day. This is 4 times as large as in the UK.

There are legitimate reasons for taking opioids. They are taken to relieve pain by cancer patients, as well as patients recovering from surgery. Codeine and morphine are opioids, reports Air force.

But if you take them in large quantities, then the problems begin. And the USA, undoubtedly, has a problem.

Here are a few basic reasons.

American doctors write many prescriptions

Unlike most European countries, in the United States there is no uniform medical system, paid from taxes.

Americans need to have their own insurance, which is usually paid by the employer or the state.

“Most insurance plans, especially for poor people, don't cover much of anything other than pills,” says West Virginia University School of Medicine professor Judith Feinberg.

“Let's say you have a 45-year-old patient. He has pain in his lower back. You examine him and identify muscle spasms. The best treatment would be physical therapy, but no one would pay for it. Therefore, doctors are very willing to take out prescription forms. Even if your insurance covers physical therapy, you will likely need to be pre-approved by [the insurance company], which is a lot of wasted time and paperwork,” she explains.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that prescriptions issued fell by 18% compared with the peak in 2010 year. But the total figure is still 3 times the 1999 indicator of the year.

“I saw this drug on TV”

The United States and New Zealand are the only countries that allow television advertising for prescription drugs.

According to company research Kantar, pharmaceutical companies spending on advertising in the US in 2016 reached 6,4 billion dollars, which is 64% more than in 2012.

None of the most frequently advertised 10 products was an opioid. But, in Judith Feinberg’s opinion, mass opioid advertising does the job.

“When you work as a doctor, people can say - I saw this medicine on TV, can you give it to me? Sometimes they don't even realize that they are already taking this drug. They ask about the brand name, but I used a generic name,” she said.

In 2015, the American Medical Association called for a ban on television advertising for prescription drugs. But this did not happen.

Gifts to doctors

In the US, it is considered normal practice when pharmaceutical companies courting doctors to promote their products to patients.

“If you're a doctor in the United States, you're going to interact with these industry salespeople,” explains Stanford University professor Keith Humphreys. — As a rule, they are very courteous, friendly, beautifully dressed, nice, and give gifts to everyone. They host dinner parties, sponsor conferences, and pleasure trips. This affects the list of prescribed medications.”

The last 4 of the year, the US government publishes monies paid by companies producing pharmaceutical products or medical devices. The total amount for 2016 year was 8 billion dollars. Awards received 630 thousand people.

Gap in the education of doctors

Richard Frank teaches health economics at the Harvard Business School. From 2009 to 2016 year, under the administration of Barack Obama, he worked in the US Department of Health. He believes that medical education in the United States leaves much to be desired.

“Doctors receive virtually no training in the use of painkillers. Until recently, they had largely misconceptions about how addictive some foods can be,” he says.

And he adds: “I testified before Congress a couple of years ago when I was in government. One of the congressmen worked as a thoracic surgeon before his political career. He noted that he received virtually no training in the use of painkillers. Everything he knew he learned from the nurses he worked with.”

Habit of taking pills

A 2016 study compared how Japanese and American doctors prescribe opioids. It turned out that Japanese doctors suggest treating severe pain with opioids in 46% of cases, and American doctors - in 97%.

Recall that earlier trump объявил opioid crisis of national emergency.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Who is really guilty of the US opioid crisis?

How do pharmacies make us waste money

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