San Diego News Fix

National crackdown on opioids has a side effect: harming legitimate chronic pain patients

Episode Summary

An estimated 25 million Americans live with chronic pain, and those on opioids have become a liability that many doctors would rather not deal with altogether. Doctors are being scrutinized more than ever for their prescribing practices. There is criticism that one watchdog campaign by the California Medical Board has gone too far. Many primary care physicians, too nervous to manage long-term treatments and not willing to take the extra time required of these high-maintenance patients, are passing them off onto overburdened pain specialists. Reporter Kristina Davis discusses the tricky reality of opioid prescriptions. --- For more: Read the main story: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/health/sd-me-pain-patients-opiods-20190120-story.html Fentanyl has taken over America's drug market. Where is it coming from? https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/sd-me-fentanyl-pipeline-20180617-story.html 'Death Diaries' reveal lessons about prescription drug epidemic https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/sd-me-death-diaries-20170106-story.html https://soundcloud.com/user-120978215/the-death-diaries

Episode Notes

An estimated 25 million Americans live with chronic pain, and those on opioids have become a liability that many doctors would rather not deal with altogether.
Doctors are being scrutinized more than ever for their prescribing practices. There is criticism that one watchdog campaign by the California Medical Board has gone too far.
Many primary care physicians, too nervous to manage long-term treatments and not willing to take the extra time required of these high-maintenance patients, are passing them off onto overburdened pain specialists.
Reporter Kristina Davis discusses the tricky reality of opioid prescriptions.

For more:
Read the main story:
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/health/sd-me-pain-patients-opiods-20190120-story.html
Fentanyl has taken over America's drug market. Where is it coming from?
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/sd-me-fentanyl-pipeline-20180617-story.html
'Death Diaries' reveal lessons about prescription drug epidemic
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/sd-me-death-diaries-20170106-story.html
https://soundcloud.com/user-120978215/the-death-diaries