U.S. Attorneys Issue Warnings to Opioid Prescribers

[nitpicker]

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwi/pr/us-attorneys-issue-warnings-opioid-prescribers

Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Western District of Wisconsin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 5, 2019

U.S. Attorneys Issue Warnings to Opioid Prescribers

Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced today that their offices, in coordination with federal and state law enforcement agencies, have sent notification letters to numerous medical professionals around Wisconsin cautioning them about their opioid prescribing practices. These letters are part of a broader federal and state effort to reduce the number of people becoming addicted to opioids.

This week, the U.S. Attorneys have sent letters to over 180 physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners advising that a review of their prescribing practices showed that they were prescribing opioids at relatively high levels compared to other prescribers. The letters warn that these prescribing practices may be contributing to the flow of prescription opioids into illegal markets and fueling dangerous addictions. Although the letters acknowledge that the prescriptions may be medically appropriate, the letters remind the practitioners that prescribing opioids without a legitimate medical purpose could subject them to enforcement action, including criminal prosecution. The names of the practitioners will not be released.

The harm caused by opioid over-prescribing and abuse is staggering. Drug overdoses are the leading cause of death for persons under 50 in the United States. In 2014, an average of 78 people died each day of a drug overdose. By 2017, that figure had risen to 114 deaths per day, and to more than 130 deaths per day in 2018. Nearly 70% of the more than 70,200 drug overdose deaths in 2017 involved an opioid. In Wisconsin alone, 916 people died of opioid overdoses in 2017. Opioid-related deaths now exceed automobile deaths in the state.
(snip)

[Blues Heron]

1. Something so wrong with lawyers second guessing doctors.

These lawyers are causing serious harm if doctors under treat pain because of this. If you're hooked on the stuff- get help. Otherwise, these busybodies need to back off.