ANNAPOLIS, Maryland — Between 2006 and 2012, Maryland saw a large influx of prescription opioids, more of which, per person, were sent to suburban areas of the state than the urban or rural areas, according to a Drug Enforcement Administration database published by The Washington Post.
Much of the rest of the nation saw suburban areas hit harder than rural or urban areas. However, Maryland saw fewer pills per person on average than across the nation. Additionally, urban areas in Maryland had the lowest number of pills per person — compared with rural areas and suburbs — whereas nationally, urban areas had the second-largest influx of prescription opioids per person.
Utilizing The Washington Post’s Drug Enforcement Administration ARCOS database, Capital News Service found that counties on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, specifically Cecil and Kent counties, had some of the highest number of pills per person than other counties throughout the state. Cecil County led the state with 69.7 opioid pills per person in 2011, the highest number during this time period.
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There are few pain management places on the shore compared to what you find in the cities. Doctors are afraid to prescribe pain meds of the opioid family due to all the stigma and negative publicity. Take a true look and the majority of overdoses come from street drugs. People are driven to it when they can't get pain medication from doctors and heroin is dirt cheap compared to buying prescription drugs. When you are in that kind of pain you do almost anything to relieve it!!
ReplyDeleteLast quarter of the Maryland opioid task force 92 percent of overdose was fentanyl and heroin. The rest was other combinations. However that doesn’t stop dr from saying no take over the counter or go to the street
DeleteYou are exactly right. Used to be when you had your wisdom teeth cut out, you got five days worth of Tylenol 3 or hydrocodone. Now you get NOTHING.
DeletePain is a powerful motivator. If doctors are afraid to legitimately prescribe it, people are going to obtain it illegally. And that’s how problems start, and people end up dying.