Painkiller addiction spiking in Mississippi communities

K.C. Hamp
Special to the American

Chronic pain is a major and growing health problem with the American public, affecting more people than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined.

Many of those affected with chronic pain have been prescribed opioid pain medication. Unfortunately this has resulted in a problem of many people abusing “painkillers,” with more than 8.3 million hydrocodone pills dispensed in our state just in July of this year. Mississippi ranks among the top six states in per capita opioid use, and 80 percent of people who admit abusing painkillers say they have tampered with the pills by chewing, inhaling or injecting to increase the potency.

The sad result of this kind of addiction has led to an increase in overdoses, with Mississippi averaging about 150 fatal overdoes a year from opioids.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prescription opioids such as oxycodone and hydrocodone are involved in more overdose deaths than any other drug. CDC research finds that people who have abused opiate painkillers are 40 times more likely to abuse heroin. In recent years, the number of heroin-related deaths has spiked in Mississippi and many of the deaths can be traced to this narcotic being trafficked into our state from Chicago. There were several arrests last year from the trafficking of heroin.

Law enforcement personnel, along with local and national officials and advocacy groups, agree there are several solutions in place that have the potential to create a strong barrier to prevent abuse.

In Mississippi, the Electronic Prescription Monitoring Program was put in place to keep track of prescriptions being filled by patients and eliminate them from seeing multiple doctors obtaining prescriptions for illegal use. Also, there is the “National Take Back Initiative,” which is conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration along with local law enforcement agencies to turn in prescriptions that are no longer being used.

Additionally, abuse-deterrent opioids (ADOs) are being developed that would help from a public safety level. This technology would protect patients by using medications that lose effectiveness when crushed or injected but work effectively when taken correctly.

The painkiller addiction has reached epidemic levels, and we see the impact in our own communities. The war to combat this issue won’t be won overnight, but we can claim victory in some battles, which offers encouragement for the future.

K.C. Hamp is sheriff of Tunica County and president of the Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association.