State Health Officer warns of “unintended consequences”
Mississippi has a high prescription rate compared to the rest of the country but actually has a low death rate as well “although I know it doesn’t seem like that every day.” She expressed her concern about the proposed rules creating “unintended consequences.” “There is a large group of people who are already addicted,” she said. Dr. Currier said over 200,000 Mississippians had opioid prescriptions that were over 30 days.
Dr. Currier is worried that suddenly cutting off the prescriptions to opioid addicts will cause opioid deaths to skyrocket as many will get more deadly drugs from the street. “We will also have more HIV and Hepatitis C out the wazoo,” she said.
She pointed out to the medical board that opioid deaths have risen nationwide as opioid prescriptions have been reduced. Dr. Currier predicted that cutting off opioid addicts in Mississippi without a plan for their treatment will cause more opioid deaths.
Jackson Jambalaya
12/13/17
