According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the opioid epidemic began in the late 1990s when doctors began to prescribe opioid pain medication with increasing frequency. One of the reasons doctors may have increased the use of opioids is the reassurance from pharmaceutical companies that the medication did not result in an addiction.
However, it was later discovered that this was not the case. Opioids can be highly addictive. Unfortunately, the use of prescription and non-prescription opioids had become widespread by the time physicians and government agencies realized the drugs were highly addictive.
The Opioid Crisis — A Public Health Emergency
In 2017, a Public Health Emergency was declared because of the opioid crisis. HHS has five strategies that it is currently using to fight the opioid crisis:
- Steps to improve awareness and comprehension of the opioid epidemic through public health surveillance;
- Improve access to recovery and treatment services;
- Promoting better pain management practices;
- Providing support for pain and addiction research; and,
- Promoting the use of overdose-reversing drugs.
Sadly, these steps are too late for some individuals. Approximately 2.1 million people have an opioid disorder, and over 42,000 people died from opioid overdoses in 2016. In addition, 11.4 million people abused prescription opioids. It is estimated that approximately 130 people die every day from opioid-related drug overdoses. The numbers are staggering, and they are continuing to increase.
Addiction to and the misuse of opioids is a serious national crisis in America. Almost one-third of patients who are prescribed opioids for pain relief misuse the drugs while about a tenth of the people who use opioids develop an opioid use disorder. It is estimated that 80 percent of heroin users abused prescription opioids. The number of people who are overdosing on opioids is increasing quickly. In 52 areas in 45 states, the number of opioid overdoses increased by 30 percent within 17 months. In 16 states, the number of opioid overdoses increased by 54 percent in large cities.
The Internet Is Contributing to the Opioid Crisis
A large number of individuals obtain opioids through prescriptions or illegally from drug dealers. However, a growing number of people are using online retailers to purchase opioids.
The NABP (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy) published a report in February 2018 that updated information about internet drug sales. All 100 websites selling drugs to individuals in the United States evaluated by the NABP were operating illegally.
A little over one-half of the websites were selling controlled substances. Almost all (98%) of the websites did not require a valid prescription to purchase the drugs. Three-fourths of the websites offered drugs that were not approved by the FDA or were drugs from other countries. Xanax was the most common controlled substances sold on these websites. The counterfeit form of Xanax can contain fentanyl, which can be extremely dangerous. Fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin.
The Centers for Disease Control place the number of drug overdoses during 2016 at 63,600, a great deal higher than the HHS figure above. Opioids caused approximately 63% of those drug overdoses. As more people turn to the internet to purchase opioids, opioid-related deaths are likely to continue increasing each year.
Purchasing Prescription Drugs Online
Many people use online pharmacies to purchase their medications. Some insurance companies require insureds to use online pharmacies to reduce costs, especially for medications taken each day. The NABP advises consumers to purchase drugs from websites that are NABP-verified as legitimate pharmacies.
NABP-verified websites should have the “.pharmacy” extension at the end of the web address. However, you can find a list of safe online pharmacies on the Buying Safely page of the website for the Pharmacy Verified Websites Program. Purchasing medications online from a website that is not verified could result in dangerous side effects and life-threatening conditions.
Contact a Houston Dangerous Drug Attorney for More Information
The Texas defective drug attorneys of Weycer Law Firm represent individuals and families who have suffered injuries and damages because of dangerous drugs and defective medications.
For a free consultation, call (713) 668-4545. You may also use the chat feature on our website for information 24/7. You may be entitled to substantial compensation if you or a loved one has been injured by a defective drug.