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John Hollenhorst ReportingA leading pain expert is in Vernal tonight, launching a statewide campaign to turn around a very scary trend.
An epidemic of accidental deaths from prescription pain medicine is taking a big toll in Utah. Almost once a day, pain-killing drugs prescribed by a doctor kill someone in Utah.
Dr. Lynn Webster/ Pres., Utah Academy of Pain Medicine: "This is a very serious national problem, and in particular here in Utah." "It has escalated tremendously at an alarming rate, which concerns me."
Like most pain specialists, Dr. Lynn Webster has come to rely more and more on prescribing narcotics to control the pain of his patients.
Dr. Lynn Webster: "For her, Percocet. Four of them a day."
But the frightening trend has come almost out of nowhere.
Dr. Lynn Webster: "We don't understand the reason why so many people have been dying."
As we reported in March, accidental death from prescription overdose used to be a small problem. About six years ago it skyrocketed into a leading cause of death. It's now killing at least 250 Utahns a year and the numbers keep going up.
Dr. Lynn Webster: "That's an unacceptable level of harm."
As president of the Utah Academy of Pain Medicine, Webster is launching an educational campaign for doctors and patients.
Dr. Lynn Webster: "By fall, I want to be able to cover the whole state."
The causes of the death epidemic are poorly understood. And there are interesting mysteries. Why is the death toll much higher in rural Utah? Why so many victims between 35 and 55 years old?
Dr. Lynn Webster: "Why is the problem. We don't understand why."
Even before answers come in, Webster has a starting point for a solution: patients should follow the prescription.
Dr. Lynn Webster: "Do not take more than what the doctor says. You do not add another medication to that pain medication. You do not use alcohol in addition to that pain medicine."
Some analysts think doctors have swung the pendulum too far toward narcotics. Webster is concerned it might swing too far the other way, depriving pain patients of effective treatment.
