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Home Resources Articles (Archives) Ohio Docs in Top 10 for Accepting Rx Opioid Makers’ Cash

Ohio Docs in Top 10 for Accepting Rx Opioid Makers’ Cash

(Fall 2017) Are payments to doctors from drug companies fueling the country’s opioid crisis? Results of a new study may spur a closer look at the effects of drug manufacturers’ payments on doctors’ tendencies to prescribe opioids. The research concludes that 20% of family doctors — and 8% of American physicians overall — accepted an opioid-related payment during the 29-month study. Ohio comes in eighth regarding these payment amounts, with neighboring Indiana and Pennsylvania joining the Buckeye State in the study’s top 10.

The research was made possible because as of August 2013 drug manufacturers are legally bound to disclose every payment they issue to a physician for any marketed drug. Payments are defined as anything that has a cash value, including meals, gifts, entertainment, speaking fees and travel expenses.

Analysis of information in the Open Payments database from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services showed that over 375,000 non-research payments related to opioids were disbursed to approximately 68,000 doctors between August 2013 and December 2015. Combined payments reached over $46 million, with the top 1% of doctors reaping more than 82% of the total disbursements. Anesthesiologists received the most in total annual payments. Pharmaceutical companies’ disbursements rose between 2014 and 2015, with an 11% increase in payments to physicians and a 26% jump in the number of payments.

Over half of the total dollar amount was paid as an honorarium or speaking fee, while food and drink outlays occurred most often (over 93% of all payments).

What is the connection between prescribed opioids and overdoses? The beginning of many people’s opioid addiction started with a painkiller prescription written by their physician. With a 2011 focus on the reduction of pill mills, these individuals then resorted to purchasing street drugs. Since the price of illicit painkillers is higher than heroin, many people switched to the cheaper option. The danger of heroin use has substantially increased in recent years, as it is sometimes sold to unsuspecting users mixed with fentanyl or carfentanil, which are both extremely powerful drugs.

Study authors said their next step is to determine how closely drug manufacturers’ payments are linked to the increase in doctors’ prescription of opioids, and, in turn, the effect of these drugs on overdoses.

Sadly, Ohio ranks high in fatal overdose rates nationwide. Only California reported more fatal drug-related overdoses in 2015. That year, 3,310 Ohioans died from a drug overdose.

Ohio has worked hard to combat the opioid crisis. One of the state’s latest efforts is a suit brought against five of the biggest makers of synthetic opioids. These manufacturers are accused of under-emphasizing the chance of addiction to manmade opioids when used for long-term pain treatment.

See more Alcohol and Drug Trends articles.


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