“U.S. laws designed to curb abuse of opioid painkillers haven’t reduced misuse or overdoses by disabled Medicare beneficiaries, a new study suggests.
Between 2006 and 2012, states enacted 81 laws to control use of powerful opioids such as Oxycontin and Vicodin. But even with these new prescription-drug monitoring programs and other regulations, researchers found that 45 percent of disabled Medicare beneficiaries were still using opioids in 2012.
And 8 percent got their opioids from four or more doctors.
“There is no evidence yet that these laws prevent misuse of prescription opioids,” said lead researcher Ellen Meara, a professor at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice in Lebanon, N.H.”
Source: SaintLouisToday.com – June 22, 2016