TryGOLD- Free

THE OPIOID BACKLASH
Newsweek US|May 12, 2023
PATIENTS WITH LEGITIMATE MEDICAL NEEDS ARE LOSING ACCESS TO OPIOIDS WHILE ADDICTION AND OVERDOSE RATES CONTINUE TO CLIMB
- David H. Freedman
THE OPIOID BACKLASH

DANNY BARCELONA LIVES IN constant fear that doctors will stop the medications he considers lifesaving. The 66-year-old has suffered for more than two decades with a debilitating nervous system disorder and severe back and shoulder pain, forcing him to close his once-thriving dental-lab business in Asheville, North Carolina, and sometimes leaving him bedridden for 18 hours a day. That he can function at all, he says, is due to his ongoing prescription for oxycodone, an opioid.

In the middle of an epidemic of opioid overdoses, doctors, hospitals and pharmacies across America are facing intense pressure to sharply cut back on prescribing and dispensing the drugs. About 8 million patients in the U.S. who depend on opioids to face constant, intense pain are at risk of losing access to the one treatment that seems to make the pain bearable. That includes Barcelona. "I don't think I could have lived without the drugs I've been taking," he says.

The number of opioid prescriptions has plummeted from a high of 251 million in 2010 to well under half that number in 2020-the last year for which figures are available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Yet the number of opioid overdoses has only continued to climb, even as drugs such as buprenorphine that can help overcome addiction and slash the risk of overdose are becoming harder to access than opioids themselves.

The twin problems of patients with a legitimate medical need losing access to opioids, while the addiction and overdose rates swell, add up to a new opioid crisis that may be worse than the original one that emerged at the turn of millennium. Federal and state governments, along with health care, bungled the response to that original crisis, say a range of experts.

This story is from the May 12, 2023 edition of Newsweek US.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 12, 2023 edition of Newsweek US.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM NEWSWEEK USView All
Mark-Paul Gosselaar
Newsweek US

Mark-Paul Gosselaar

HE'S BEEN IN THE BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN 40 years, but Mark-Paul Gosselaar still feels like he hasn't experienced everything.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 07, 2025
The SECOND COMING
Newsweek US

The SECOND COMING

As he returns to the Oval Office, DONALD TRUMP has promised 'a golden age' after he was 'saved by God to make America great again.' Is his optimism justified?

time-read
9 mins  |
February 07, 2025
Chatbot Therapy
Newsweek US

Chatbot Therapy

Could artificial intelligence replace human support for mental health care? Newsweek asked the experts

time-read
5 mins  |
February 07, 2025
TRUMP'S LICENSE TO DRILL
Newsweek US

TRUMP'S LICENSE TO DRILL

After pumping money into the election cycle, the oil and gas industry now want the president to follow through on his pledge

time-read
5 mins  |
February 07, 2025
Failed Lovers, Lifelong Friends
Newsweek US

Failed Lovers, Lifelong Friends

'What initially attracted you to a person need not be wasted...it can be used to build something new'

time-read
4 mins  |
February 07, 2025
Animal Instincts
Newsweek US

Animal Instincts

Primates practice different mating styles but empowered females help create harmonious families. Humans could learn from them

time-read
10+ mins  |
February 07, 2025
Morris Chestnut
Newsweek US

Morris Chestnut

FROM BOYZ N THE HOOD IN 1991 UNTIL NOW, MORRIS CHESTNUT HAS SEEN much of Hollywood.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 07, 2025
MOST TRUSTED BRANDS 2025
Newsweek US

MOST TRUSTED BRANDS 2025

TRUST IS A CORNERSTONE OF MEANINGFUL RELAtionships. When dealing with businesses and brands, it's often the deciding factor that separates the companies we rely on from the ones we don't.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 07, 2025
Kenya Barris
Newsweek US

Kenya Barris

KENYA BARRIS, THE EMMY-NOMINATED CRE-ator of Black-ish, knows that him teaming up with Malcolm Gladwell for the new Audible series The Unusual Suspects is a bit of an odd pairing. “We’re actually not as odd, but it’s an interesting combination.” And their guest list is just as diverse, from entertainment figures like Jimmy Kimmel and Ava DuVernay to renowned chef David Chang.

time-read
1 min  |
January 31, 2025
The Man Behind Israel's Charm Offensive
Newsweek US

The Man Behind Israel's Charm Offensive

Gideon Sa’ar wants to change the world’s perception of his country. Some say the Israeli foreign minister will need to be a real magician’ to pull it off

time-read
7 mins  |
January 31, 2025

We use cookies to provide and improve our services. By using our site, you consent to cookies. Learn more