Worrisome: addiction to heavy painkillers

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Posted on 06/09/2019 in Current Affairs

The number of Dutch people addicted to heavy painkillers and ending up in rehabilitation clinics has tripled in the period from 2012 to 2018. At five addiction clinics, the number of addicts increased from 92 to over 292 per year, as reported by NRC on July 28th.

New Group of Addicts is Growing
This is evident from a tour of addiction clinics in cities such as Leeuwarden, Arnhem, Zoetermeer, and Almelo. In the first half of 2019, 252 new addicts have already been registered there. Albert Dahan, professor of anesthesiology at Leiden University Medical Center, estimates that the number of Dutch people addicted to heavy painkillers is "thousands."

What are the substances?
Oxycodone (also marketed as oxycontin and oxynorm) is a synthetic variant of morphine and twice as potent. The drug inhibits pain and has a mild euphoric effect. It is often prescribed after abdominal surgery or for cancer, but also for less severe pain complaints. A similar drug, Fentanyl, is a hundred times stronger.

Serious Detox
These substances are only available by prescription and are extremely addictive. "Dependency can occur after a month," says addiction specialist Romeo Ashruf from addiction institution Brijder. Addicts must taper off their use and are often temporarily prescribed methadone, just like heroin addicts. Detoxing from oxycodone can involve vomiting, trembling, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

Explanation for the increase in usage
It is striking that heavy medication is prescribed more often outside the Randstad, such as in Drenthe, Twente, in the Achterhoek, and in Limburg. This may be due to the close(r) relationships between the general practitioner and their patients. For example, a general practitioner may encounter their patients at the local bakery. This makes the pain very tangible, making it harder to say 'no'. Furthermore, the control over repeat prescriptions should be improved. 'Patients should only receive pills for a maximum of two or three weeks,' Ashruf suggests.

Number of overdoses among oxycodone users is increasing
The number of overdoses and poisonings among oxycodone users increased by 50% in 2018 to 424, as reported by NRC on August 28.

Minister Bruno Bruins (Medical Care and Sports) aims to put a stop to the use of heavy painkillers. Providing information to patients and prescribers is expected to help. Last summer, the Dutch College of General Practitioners tightened its guidelines and emphasized that heavy painkillers, including oxycodone, should only be prescribed in exceptional cases.

Acupuncture as Support for Chronic Pain and Cancer Pain
The Dutch Knowledge Centre Acupuncture published an article about important reviews. These reviews support previous research findings on the relief acupuncture can provide for various types of pain. Acupuncture is a natural and safe way to alleviate all kinds of complaints. It is painless and has no side effects.
See the links to the Knowledge Centre at the bottom of the page.

Want to know more about acupuncture?
And are you curious if acupuncture can help you with (chronic) pain? Look at the top of the page for 'find an acupuncturist' to find a well-trained NVA acupuncturist near you. And make an appointment.

*   Source: NRC dated 07-28-2019

** Source: NRC dated 08-28-2019