Pubdate: Sun, 17 Aug 2008 Source: Palm Beach Post, The (FL) Copyright: 2008 The Palm Beach Post Contact: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/333 Author: Ken Staggs ANSWERS AVAILABLE FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE Regarding the Aug. 2 article about prescription drug abuse, I was disturbed that such a crisis is occurring in my home county, having grown up in Palm Beach Gardens. As a practicing pain physician in Mississippi, I must address some disturbing implications. Patients must have access to appropriate pain treatment, including the use of potentially addictive medicines when indicated. Removing them from the physician's armamentarium is not the answer, but educating physicians, patients, and law enforcement would go a long way in decreasing this epidemic of prescription drug abuse. True experts in pain medicine (a shortage of which may be part of the problem) employ varied and successful strategies to prevent diversion and abuse, including a full and proper evaluation, psychological screening and routine follow-up, assessment tools, and timely appropriate medical follow-up. The goal is to identify which patients are candidates for opioid therapy, who are at risk for addiction with a requirement for closer monitoring. None of the above solutions is hard to accomplish, but it takes effort and dedication as well as understanding and cooperation from insurers. The answers are readily available, but the effort and resources are not. My hope is that you continue to publicize this crisis and the solutions that will help to reduce its lethal impact. KEN STAGGS, MD, ABPM Meridian, Miss. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath