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CVS is finally trying to do something about the opioid epidemic:
Drug-store chain CVS Health announced Thursday that it will limit opioid prescriptions in an effort to combat the epidemic that accounted for 64,000 overdose deaths last year alone.
Amid pressure on pharmacists, doctors, insurers and drug companies to take action, CVS also said it would boost funding for addiction programs, counseling and safe disposal of opioids.
[...] The company's prescription drug management division, CVS Caremark, which provides medications to nearly 90 million people, said it would use its sweeping influence to limit initial opioid prescriptions to seven-day supplies for new patients facing acute ailments.
It will instruct pharmacists to contact doctors when they encounter prescriptions that appear to offer more medication than would be deemed necessary for a patient's recovery. The doctor would be asked to revise it. Pharmacists already reach out to physicians for other reasons, such as when they prescribe medications that aren't covered by a patient's insurance plan.
The plan also involves capping daily dosages and initially requiring patients to get versions of the medications that dispense pain relief for a short period instead of a longer duration.
[...] "The whole effort here is to try to reduce the number of people who are going to end up with some sort of opioid addiction problem," CVS Chief Medical Officer Troyen Brennan said in an interview.
It appears this initiative is limited to initial filling of prescriptions — there is no mention of changes in the handling of refills.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by captain_nifty on Monday September 25 2017, @02:56PM (3 children)
This is the same type of crap as Sudafed. Sudafed doesn't even require a prescription, but because you can use it in the manufacture of methamphetamines, it is regulated. Really sucks if you need some for allergies or a cold and all you can buy is a low couple of days worth dosage, after waiting to speak to a pharmacist and having them track your ID. I saw a joke once that someone was looking for the reverse recipe, how to make Sudafed from meth, as meth was now easier to get. Sooner or later 'street pharmacists' aka drug dealers, are going to be required to meet legitimate pain management needs as doctors and pharmacists will just say no.
This extralegal removal of choice is stupid. For opioids you already need a medical professional to write you a prescription, now they have to have the pharmacy and insurance in the mix to make it harder to get medical supplies. It would be so nice to actually be responsible adults about it. It is a necessary medical supply for some, yes it can be abused. So instead of asking: Why do people abuse it? Can we do something to change the despair in society leading to addiction? or offer solutions to get out of addiction? Instead we limit the supply and criminalize mere possession of a thing, making it difficult for those with valid uses to obtain needed medical supplies, and driving an often violent and criminal alternative market.
It's almost like the powers that be want a permanent criminal underclass that they can exploit.
After you see so many policies, like the war on drugs, fail so spectacularly with respect to their stated goals; you have to assume that the stated goals are lies, and the actual outcomes are the real desired outcome.
(Score: 5, Informative) by c0lo on Monday September 25 2017, @03:51PM (2 children)
Because pharma tricked the FDA into thinking OxyContin is not-addictive [nih.gov]. Then it tricked them to approve packaging of higher doses.
And misrepresented the safety of the drug, admitted doing so and paid "$600 million in one of the largest pharmaceutical settlements in U.S. history." [wikipedia.org]
To the point now you have a horde of former patient doing doctor shopping [nih.gov] to satisfy their addiction.
Am easier to read story here [theweek.com]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 25 2017, @07:32PM (1 child)
the fda has a revolving door with big pharma. if you want to delude yourself that the FDA's whoring is a big accident then noone can stop you. enjoy your rose colored glasses.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday September 25 2017, @09:29PM
Willingly or unwillingly tricked, does it matter in the end for how much you can trust them?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford