The fight against prescription drug abuse across the nation gets a boost as tougher regulations on painkillers containing hydrocodone officially go into effect on Monday.
The fight against prescription drug abuse across the nation gets a boost is tougher regulations on painkillers containing hydrocodone officially go into effect on monday news 8’s brittany schmidt joins us now with the details lisa for many years hydrocodone containing products have been widely used as painkillers but due to their addictive nature the us drug
Enforcement administration is putting tighter restrictions on it here are a few things you should know before the new rules go into effect next week statistics show 100 people die every day from a drug overdose in the united states and three out of four of those are caused by prescription painkillers they decided that one of the ways that they could maybe cut down
On the increasing literally skyrocketing death rate from narcotics was that they can move hydrocodone products which are the most probably abused of the narcotic medications up to schedule two under its current ranking patients can have up to five refills in the six-month window for hydrocodone containing products plus the prescriptions can be phoned or fax in on
Monday you will no longer be able to get hydrocodone containing medications in a refillable format they would have to be written for a one-time only fill for a one month supply and any refills would then require a new written prescription from the physician in essence it should help cut down on doctor shopping people of using those prescription medications but
For those who rely on the medication for some people these medications keep them functioning in the community keep them employed some are worried that the new rules will prevent them from getting their much needed medication the fear that i have is is for people who aren’t going to abuse it who aren’t addicted to it it may make it more difficult for them or cause
Them to take a couple of extra steps to get it but dr. dolan says it shouldn’t have an impact especially in emergency situations certainly patients on hospice or in long-term care facilities who are terminally ill you’ll be able to fax hydrocodone prescriptions for those patients although it’s an extra step many believe it’s a step in the right direction i think
The benefit outweighs the negative consequences i think it’s important that people realized those the access to those medications will still be there it’s just that it will require that extra step of getting a written prescription on a monthly basis it’s important to know in general any prescriptions for hydrocodone containing products written before october first
Technically can be refilled for the next six months but that is up to the pharmacies discretion prescriptions written on or after monday october six will not be refillable thank you brittany the new dea regulations also impact the local drug drop off boxes there are currently seven prescription drug drop off boxes in la crosse county that collect unused prescription
Medication monday through friday however the dea is no longer funding the disposal of the medication collected we would collect them at these medication take back days and often the medication take back days coincided with the dea take back days and so we would collect them and then hand them over to the dea and the da would pay for disposal that’s gone away local
Officials say there is definitely a need for these boxes in our area and are working hard to find a funding solution every department that has a drop box is determined to keep the program running
Transcribed from video
Hydrocodone medication restrictions start Monday By WKBT TV
