With pain being the main reason that patients are brought into the Emergency Department at Penobscot Valley Hospital, pain control is very closely monitored with all patients. Staff members at PVH have developed a brochure to help patients manage their pain at home. They have added pain scales in each examination room so patients can quantify their level of hurt. Most recently, PVH staff have finalized a plan to help prevent prescription drug abuse in our community.
In January, the hospital formally implemented a plan to help curb prescription drug abuse in our area. Physicians in the Emergency Department are now prescribing shorter doses to patients in pain, allowing them an adequate dosage of medication until they can have a comprehensive visit with their primary care physician.
PVH has worked closely with local primary care physicians including Dr. Noah Nesin at Health Access Network. He states, “The diversion and abuse of prescription narcotics is the number one public health problem in Maine. We all share responsibility in managing and solving this problem and close collaboration between all prescribers and health care facilities is vital to this effort.”
Physicians at PVH also utilize the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) database which maintains transactions for all controlled substances dispensed in the State of Maine. This tool allows clinicians to provide better care to patients throughout our state as it enhances the ability of health care providers to coordinate care. The PMP is a great tool in the Emergency Department because it provides accurate background information on new patients and increases access to medication for people with legitimate pain. The ultimate goal of the PMP is to provide patients with the treatment they need if they do have drug-related problems.
“Because of the increase in abuse of prescription narcotics,” explains PVH Director of Medical Services, Dr. David Dumont, “physicians are much more selective on who we write prescriptions to. We see abuse in our community anywhere from high school aged students to people in late adulthood, and that can lead to an increased crime level in our community.”
According to the 2005/2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 13% of Maine youth ages 12-17 reported use of an illicit drug in the past month. The study also found 70% of children who abuse prescription drugs get them from family or friends.
To help prevent abuse of prescription drugs, staff at PVH encourage you to:
Educate yourself and your children. Because prescription drugs are prescribed to improve one’s health, teens often believe they are safe in any method taken. Learn about the most common pain relievers, sedatives, stimulants and tranquilizers. Communicate their dangers to your children regularly.
Lock your medications. According to the NSDUH survey, 4,047 children and young adults begin experimenting with prescription drugs every day, and over 2/3 of them are accessing the drugs from family and friends. Prevent your children from abusing your own medication by securing your prescriptions.
Properly dispose of unused medication. Never flush prescription drugs down the toilet (unless the label instructs you to do so). Look for community drug take-back programs scheduled in our area. SPRINT will be sponsoring a collection along with the Lincoln Police Department outside the PVH Rehab & Wellness Center on Main Street in Lincoln (across from Marden’s) on Saturday, April 30 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Many hospitals and pharmacies participate in the Safe Medicine Disposal for ME Program allowing you to mail your unwanted prescriptions in for proper disposal. Visit www.safemeddisposal.com for a location near you.
If you or someone you know might have a problem with prescription drug abuse, there is help available to you. Please contact your primary care physician to discuss the options. |