OPIOID OVERDOSE

Course overview

ONE VERY COMMON REASON WHY PATIENTS SEEK MEDICAL CARE IS FOR PAIN. TODAY, THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO RELIEVE PAIN, AND ONE OF THEM IS WITH THE USE OF OPIATES. OPIATES HAVE FORMALLY BEEN APPROVED FOR ANALGESIA FOR CLOSE TO 70 YEARS, AND FOR THE MOST PART, THESE DRUGS HAVE BEEN ASSUMED TO BE RELATIVELY SAFE. HOWEVER, IN THE LAST 2 DECADES, MANY REPORTS HAVE RAISED CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THESE DRUGS. CASES OF OVERDOSE AND OPIATE TOXICITY ARE CONTINUALLY REPORTED IN ALL MAJOR CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. MORE NOTABLE IS THAT THE PRESCRIPTIONS FOR OPIATES HAVE DRAMATICALLY INCREASED OVER THE PAST 2 DECADES. THIS EMPIRICAL PRESCRIPTION HABIT BY HEALTHCARE WORKERS HAS ALSO LED TO AN EPIDEMIC OF AN OVERDOSE OUTSIDE THE HEALTHCARE SETTING. THUS, FOR PRACTICING HEALTHCARE WORKERS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE OF OPIATE TOXICITY IN PATIENTS WHO ARE LETHARGIC OR UNRESPONSIVE FOR NO APPARENT REASON.