Painkiller prescriptions fall in Ohio

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- Painkiller prescriptions have fallen in the state of Ohio.

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy released data that shows the Buckeye state is down 20% when it comes to painkiller prescription. The decrease has been a result of new protocol that aims to battle the deadly addiction epidemic in Ohio.

CEO of Muskingum Behavioral Health, Steve Carrel, said that doctors are looking at alternative ways of controlling and dealing with pain with patients.

“I think people’s awareness has been raised because of this and they’re asking their doctors different questions now, not what is the Oxycontin stuff, I hear it gets rid of pain,” said Carrel.

Last year 631 million painkiller pills were dispensed to patients, a decrease from a high of 793 million in 2012.

Carrel said painkiller addiction easily turns into heroin addiction.

“Well when a person becomes addicted to the pain medications and for whatever reason the doctor stops prescribing, they decide to quit, bu they’re now in addiction. They’re not going to want to go through withdrawal and by then they figured out some alternate ways of avoiding that ‘dope sick’ and they’ll find heroin in no time,” said Carrel.

Ohio had a record of 3,050 overdose deaths last year. Many of which were attributed to painkillers and heroin abuse.