SAN DIEGO, Feb. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pets around the country are being sent off to see their veterinarians to score pills for their owners, and states around the country and trying to find out what they can do to stop it. Drug news provider The Recover has a new story released about Arkansas’ new addition to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, as of August 2017. Veterinarians are now being asked to check the program before prescribing certain abused medications as to see if a pet’s owner is known for pill abuse.
Some specialists are even refusing to send out medications with owners, and do not fill any prescriptions except within their own property. Others are switching out patches for pills as an alternative that is less likely to be abused. The most commonly abused drugs are Tramadol, which is a prescription oral drug used to treat moderate to severe pain, and Xanax, which is commonly used for anxiety.
Not all veterinarians agree that they have an impact on the opioid crisis, and state that they have an unlikely involvement in the outcome of prescriptions being abused. Maine Veterinary Medical Association acknowledges the crisis, saying “opioid epidemic is a serious public health crisis that requires all prescribers and dispensers of opioids and benzodiazepines to assist in preventing the misuse or diversion of these drugs,” veterinarians “are ineffective participants in reducing drug abuse by the public” because they “do not have the human medical exposure or background to review medical prescription information for animal owners.”
But others are on the side of whatever can help, they support. Dr. David Gurzak, a family vet at Brackett Street Veterinary Clinic in Portland, Maine, says, “Practically speaking, it’s hard to prove this is making a big difference. But it’s such a terrible crisis, what’s happening,” he added. “So whatever avenues we pursue to avoid the diversion of drugs is good idea in my book.”
Author: Kevin Leonard
Organization: TheRecover.com
Address: 27420 Jefferson Ave, Temecula, CA 92590
Phone: 888-510-3898
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