The "Two-Edged Sword" of Narcotics in Pain Management

The "Two-Edged Sword" of Narcotics in Pain Management

Powerful Treatment Requires Physician's Diligence to Avoid Abuse

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Prescription narcotics are among the most effective treatments for chronic and debilitating pain, but their improper use can have tragic consequences. For proof, look no further than North Carolina, where 1,000 deaths occur annually from misused medications - among the highest rates in the United States.

"If we all work together responsibly, patients can receive appropriate and effective pain management and we can avoid these needless deaths," said Dr. Mark Romanoff of Southeast Pain Care during an appearance on the program Medicine and Society, produced by University of North Carolina-Charlotte Cable Television. The segment is titled "Prescription Narcotics: A Two-Edged Sword."

An estimated 70 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, and many find relief from narcotics prescribed by their physicians. National studies report that 85 percent of these patients use the medications appropriately.

When prescribing narcotics, Romanoff said physicians must be extremely careful to ensure the patient's wellbeing and achieve the desired results while avoiding negative outcomes such as addiction, accidental overdoses or death. He added that patients bear the responsibility to use prescriptions only for their intended purpose; to secure them away from others; never to share medications; and to return unused portions to their physicians for disposal.

Medicine and Society airs on UNC Charlotte Cable Television on Tuesdays and Sundays at 9:30 am, 12:30 pm, 5:30 pm, and 7:30 pm.

ABOUT SOUTHEAST PAIN CARE: Southeast Pain Care treats patients with a wide variety of conditions, including acute pain from back injury, headaches and pain resulting from accidents, injuries or diseases such as diabetes. A division of the national medical group American Anesthesiology, the practice operates 12 pain clinics in Charlotte and the surrounding region, and serves more than 40,000 patients annually. Southeast Pain Care's 18 physicians are each fellowship trained in pain management and double-board certified in anesthesiology/neurology and pain management. www.sepaincare.com.

ABOUT AMERICAN ANESTHESIOLOGY: American Anesthesiology has more than 650 anesthesia providers, including more than 300 physicians and 350 CRNAs and anesthesia assistants practicing in five metropolitan areas in the Carolinas, Virginia and Georgia, with administrative offices in Raleigh, NC, and Sunrise, FL.

SOURCE Southeast Pain Care

Southeast Pain Care

CONTACT: Adam Bernstein, +1-704-374-9300, abernstein@carolinapr.com; or Kristen Bostedo-Conway, +1-704-248-5440, Kristen_Bostedo-conway@americananesthesiology.com

Web Site: http://www.sepaincare.com

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