MA Physicians Launch Effort Against Opioid Abuse

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Friday, May 22, 2015

GoLocalWorcester News Team

The Massachusetts Medical Society announced on Thursday that the organization is launching a campaign to educate physicians and patients in the Commonwealth about safe prescribing and the storage and disposal of prescription pain medications.

“There is no more important public health issue today than the opioid epidemic. Physicians must step forward immediately to do everything we can to help bring this devastating problem under control," said Dennis M. Dimitri, M.D., President of the MMS.

Citing statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Dimitri noted that more than 80 percent of people who misuse prescription pain medications are using drugs prescribed to someone else.  Dr. Dimitri called attention to a recent poll by the Harvard School of Public Health that found that nearly 4 in 10 Massachusetts residents know someone who has abused prescription pain medications.

Dr. Dimitri said that while he believes most physicians prescribe responsibly, ther are too many doses of opioid medications in circulation across the state. According to Dr. Dimitri, the state can make progress by limiting the supply of opioid medications.

 Dimitri said the Medical Society’s campaign will have three components:

• (1) Guidelines for prescribers to help them make the right decisions for their patients;
• (2) free educational resources for prescribers to help inform their judgments; and
• (3) information on the critical aspects of storage and disposal of prescription drugs for patients and families.

The prescribing guidelines are available here. The public education materials will be available on the Society’s website in early June.

“There is no more important public health issue today than the opioid epidemic,” said Dr. Dimitri. “It is devastating communities, families, men, women, rich and poor, and most tragically, children and adolescents.  It has to stop – and physicians are ready to do our part.”

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