Opioid Deaths Tied to Specialty Care

Patients of pain medicine specialists may have a higher risk of overdosing on opioids than people who receive their drugs from primary care physicians, a new study suggests.

According to Med Page Today, researchers from the University of Utah examined the Utah Controlled Substance Database, which includes records of all Schedule II and Schedule V medications prescribed to the state since 1995. They found that pain medicine specialists accounted for a higher amount of fatalities than expected given their opioid prescribing.

Family practice doctors wrote the most prescriptions for opioids (25 percent), and had the most deaths (35 percent). Researchers also found that internal medicine doctors, emergency medical doctors, orthopedic surgeons, and dentists accounted for a lower proportion of deaths when compared to nurse practitioners, anesthesiologists, and physician assistants.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a dangerous drug, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation and to learn about your options.

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