Celebrity Overdoses Adversely Effect Pain Management

It seems that celebrity overdoses or accidental deaths caused by prescription drugs are having an adverse effect on pain management in America. First and foremost should suffering be relieved when that relief is readily available.

The recent deaths of Heath Ledger and Anna Nicole Smith received extensive media attention. Even though their deaths were tragic and saddened the American community at large; the fact that they died from prescription medication tends to focus attention on the medical community. It seems physicians question the prescribing of certain medications that are necessary for many patients to obtain relief from chronic pain for fear of discipline by the regulating boards.

Anna Nicole Smith was taking Methadone. This drug is a synthesized opiate that was developed by the Nazi's during WWII as a replacement for morphine, which was difficult to acquire. Methadone is commonly used in clinics for rehabilitating heroin addicts, or people with chronic addiction to opiates. Some physicians say it is trading one addiction for another; but, Methadone is much safer when administered by a clinic as opposed to street heroin whose dose varies with the "cut" and can easily kill.