ANSWERS AVAILABLE FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

Regarding the Aug. 2 article about prescription drug abuse, I was
disturbed that such a crisis is occurring in my home county, having
grown up in Palm Beach Gardens. As a practicing pain physician in
Mississippi, I must address some disturbing implications.

Patients must have access to appropriate pain treatment, including the
use of potentially addictive medicines when indicated. Removing them
from the physician's armamentarium is not the answer, but educating
physicians, patients, and law enforcement would go a long way in
decreasing this epidemic of prescription drug abuse.

True experts in pain medicine (a shortage of which may be part of the
problem) employ varied and successful strategies to prevent diversion
and abuse, including a full and proper evaluation, psychological
screening and routine follow-up, assessment tools, and timely
appropriate medical follow-up. The goal is to identify which patients
are candidates for opioid therapy, who are at risk for addiction with
a requirement for closer monitoring.

None of the above solutions is hard to accomplish, but it takes effort
and dedication as well as understanding and cooperation from insurers.
The answers are readily available, but the effort and resources are
not. My hope is that you continue to publicize this crisis and the
solutions that will help to reduce its lethal impact.

KEN STAGGS, MD, ABPM

Meridian, Miss.