Most people who take pain pills have no trouble stopping. But all too often, prescription pain killers fuel an addiction. Medical centers are tightening their policies on the administration of opioids in order to avoid addiction and overdose death. Listen to a group of people who are in recovery from opioid addiction talk about their experiences with prescribed medications. We review our local hospital's narcotic prescribing guidelines and patient contract.

Discussion Guidelines:

Did your addiction begin with prescription medications for an injury or medical pain?

If so, were you educated on the risks of dependency?

Was the education sufficient to avoid addiction, and were you receptive to the warnings?

Were you asked to sign a controlled substance agreement? If so, did you sign it in good faith with every intention of complying? Or were you manipulating the medical system in order to maintain your addiction?

In order to help others avoid addiction, what additional precautions would you recommend the medical centers enforce?

Supplemental Reading:

8 Rights of Medication Administration, Lippinicott Nursing Center, http://www.nursingcenter.com/ncblog/may-2011/8-rights-of-medication-administration

Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Policy for Prescribing and Dispensing Opioids http://www.painpolicy.wisc.edu/sites/www.painpolicy.wisc.edu/files/Colorado_Joint%20Bd_Policy%20for%20Prescribing%20and%20Dispensing%20Opioids.pdf

Sample Opiate/Pain Management Agreement, http://pmp.pharmacy.state.mn.us/assets/files/PDFs/Sample%20Pain%20Management%20Contract.pdf