children are not being given enough pain meds

[lhart6272]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/03/health...ent/index.html

[TLopez]

Today's society is already fucked up by the number of kids hooked on prescription pain meds. So now let's start them off younger with their own prescription. Notice the pharmaceutical companys are still going strong in this economy!

[homonunculus]

This was interesting:

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called prescription drug overdoses an "epidemic," noting that 15,000 people died in 2008 from prescription drug overdoses -- more than died from cocaine and heroin overdoses combined.

-S

[mark!]

I haven't checked actual crime stats for our city, but I can recall when I started back in 07, we rarely got a call for forged prescriptions. Now, it seems like once a week, at that's within the 40 hours I work a week, not counting 1st, 2nd and 3rd watch. They're not considered "kids" but they're late teens, early 20's mostly looking to score easy narcotics. It's really sad how people turn to RX meds so quickly these days. My wife's mom is one of those people that, if she feels a bit ill, she's gotta see a doctor and get pain meds or something. Kids always were looking to score tbars (xanax) and other party type drugs when I was in high school, now kids are taking some heavy pain killers to school to get that relaxed spaced out feeling. Most kids I'd say have easy access to the meds via parents/relatives. Do I think kids need some pain medication with a broken leg? Yes, if there's pain, a mild narcotic pain killer should be administered. Do I think they should be getting them, say as easily as I could? Absolutely not. I'm confident I could walk in to any Doctor, say I've got a hurt knee/leg/back/arm, and I'd be given an RX for some pain meds. Pain meds are a slippery slope, especially when the Doctor doesn't know the patient. And most kids haven't had enough experience to know what they are and are not allergic to. I'd bet some of those deaths were from severe allergic reactions to the drug.

3rd edit: Damn the more I think about it, the article can be partially right, but still partially wrong on both ends. I think some docs are really tight when it comes to prescribing pain meds, even with some adults, let alone kids. There are legit reasons a kid should have some relief from pain, and aren't getting the help they need.

[dakoose]

Today's society is already fucked up by the number of kids hooked on prescription pain meds. So now let's start them off younger with their own prescription.

I agree, the last thing kids these days need is more medication.

[Adam2433]

As a pediatric RN I can confidently say I think the prescribing of pain and sedative mediations to kids is more than adequate. It seems docs are more afraid of being accused of under dosing, under testing, under prescribing, etc and fear claims of negligence thus they over compensate to cover their butts.

And in our due happy society I don't blame them.

[bigoso]

As a pediatric RN I can confidently say I think the prescribing of pain and sedative mediations to kids is more than adequate. It seems docs are more afraid of being accused of under dosing, under testing, under prescribing, etc and fear claims of negligence thus they over compensate to cover their butts.

And in our due happy society I don't blame them.

couldn't agree with this more....I'm an ER RN and I see it everyday. I could go on a rant here, but...suffice to say, hospitals have adapted a "fast food" sort of business model in that you will pretty much get what you ask for. Either for fear of claims of negligence, negative press gainey scores, etc. It really is a shame, in the ER some times I feel like a dope dealer

[Sammich]

No no no no... The article got is all wrong.

I am not being given enough pain meds.

[Doberman]

No no no no... The article got is all wrong.

I am not being given enough pain meds.

I agree, you do need more medication.

[Sammich]

I agree, you do need more medication.

If you gave me a lot of pain meds there would be about 1 week where all my posts would be incredibly happy and nice and then zero posts because I'd be dead.