With prescription pain killers being given out like candy, it's no surprise that deaths by accidental overdose have doubled in the past five years. Although not the only culprit, OxyContin - known as Hillbilly Heroin on the street - has been named as one of the drugs contributing significantly to this alarming trend.
According to Dr. Anne Marie McKenzie-Brown, a pain medicine expert at Atlanta's Emory Crawford Long Hospital, "There is a misperception that because a drug is a prescription medicine, it's safe to use for non-medical reasons. And clearly that is not true."
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Rising Prescription Pain Killer Use
- Opportunity for alternative pain management solutions to combat the increasing reliance on prescription pain killers.
- Increase in Accidental Overdose Deaths
- Opportunity for innovation in overdose prevention strategies, such as advanced drug monitoring systems or naloxone distribution programs.
- Concerns About Oxycontin Abuse
- Opportunity for pharmaceutical companies to develop abuse-deterrent formulations or safer alternatives to OxyContin.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Pharmaceutical
- Pharmaceutical companies can explore the development of alternative pain management drugs and abuse-deterrent formulations.
- Healthcare
- Hospitals and healthcare providers can implement advanced drug monitoring systems and naloxone distribution programs to prevent accidental overdose deaths.
- Technology
- Technology companies can create innovative solutions for monitoring and analyzing prescription drug use to help identify opioid abuse and prevent overdoses.
