Last updated : November 18, 2024
Prescription narcotic painkiller usage has skyrocketed in the past two decades. An enormous amount of people are depending on these drugs, and they are threatening society as a whole. Painkillers, such as Vicodin and OxyContin, are being over prescribed and abused. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has referred to this kind of drug abuse as epidemic and deadly.
In an attempt to slow down the ever-growing, narcotic addiction problem in the United States, the government has limited the number of pills that a patient can get, a 90- day supply per prescription. There are, of course, patients with chronic pain who are rightfully in need of these drugs. Healthcare workers are worried, however, about the mental and physical addiction that can arise.
A new phenomenon is happening in the workplace as a result of employees taking these kinds of pain killers. People who have had traumatic accidents or chronic pain come to work on narcotics, and their jobs are noticeably compromised. Specifically, they describe themselves as feeling lethargic, clumsy, slow, and forgetful at work. Most people will not tell their bosses about it for fear of losing their jobs. This, however, presents a troubling problem for employers, especially in this competitive job market.
Employers are attempting to combat the problem by adding prescription drugs to the drug screening process. Quest Diagnostics reported startling increases in the last few months of people on prescriptions such as morphine and OxyContin, both strong opiates. In general, workers are not allowed to be fired for using prescription drugs, but it is still a situation that could impact the safety and productivity of the workplace. Labor lawyers contend that although patients have the right to be taking painkillers, they do not have the right to put themselves and others at risk.
Employers are now drug testing their employees after workplace accidents; if it can be proven that the accident was caused by the prescription drugs, the employer is not responsible for workman’s compensation. Positive drug test results are four times more likely after work-related accidents than for pre-employment tests.
Technically, employees have the right to proper medical treatment, but concerns are growing with the number of workers taking these drugs and also the long term effects. Additionally, employers are not simply going to look the other way, even if a worker is legally taking prescription drugs.
The long-term effects of narcotic painkillers are frightening. Administrative director of The Waismann Method Clare Kavin states that some of those effects include “gradual progression of intake, emotional numbness, delayed reaction/responses and decreased performance.” After taking them consistently for as short a period as two weeks, people need a higher dosage to achieve the same level of pain relief. The amount of time these drugs stay in the system varies from person to person and depends on body weight and metabolism.
To add to the growing painkiller epidemic is yet a new drug called Zohydro. It is an extended release painkiller containing the well-known opioid hydrocodone. Health experts warn that this drug is available in amounts five times the amount in hydrocodone pills. The drug’s manufacturer Zogenics Inc. is proud of the drug simply because it does not contain acetaminophen, which has been linked to liver damage. Zohydro offers strong pain relief with no threat to the liver.
Addiction experts warn that the high dosage in Zohydro could spark an entirely new, alarming problem. The addiction to this new drug, as well as other opioids, can cause life-long struggles or death.
