How Complicit Are Pharmacies in Local Opioid Abuse?

Since these data are from seven years ago, some of these pharmacies are no longer in business. Do the figures really tell us anything? Perhaps they only back up Rogersville and Leighton's high ranking in opioid prescriptions. Or that they're located near a physician who likes to prescribe opioids.

Some years ago, we spoke to a pharmacist who worked outside the Lauderdale/Colbert area. She was lamenting the fact that tramadol had been placed on "the schedule," or in other words had become a scheduled drug. After we agreed with her take on the matter, she then really began a rant about hydrocodone moving up on the schedule. We didn't particularly agree with her opinion on that, so we guided the conversation in another direction. We wonder how many pharmacists feel as she did?

Perhaps the salient question now is will the DEA make any more changes since the publication of this data in the WaPo article? Think any pharmacies will be declaring bankruptcy? 

It's Possible...

Opioid Scripts? Colbert Comes in Fourth

Number 4 - Colbert

Number 3 - Franklin

Number 2 - Marion

Number 5 - Winston

Number 1 - Walker

Five counties, all close to home...or perhaps home itself. These rankings are for the entire state, not just North Alabama. Just how sick are we? 

If you live in Colbert County, did you get 85 opioid scripts a year between 2006 and 2012? Let's say you had none; who had your 85? Your pool boy? Your child's teacher? Your minister? These are questions we should be asking ourselves. 

Think about it. If you regularly take hydocodone, wouldn't a physician give you a script to last a month? In other words, you would get 12 scripts a year. Who in the wonderful world of Hunter S. Thompson gets 85 scripts a year? That's more than one a week. 

Rogersville may be the number two town in the state for opioid prescriptions, but at least Lauderdale didn't make the county list. Thankful for small favors?

Tomorrow: Just what pharmacies are filling these scripts?

Hey, Anyone Ever Tell Ya These Cones Taste Like Vape Pens?

Colbert & Franklin Came in First...Unfortunately

There's a new study on opioid prescriptions. Conducted by Harvard University, the study ranks the number of opioid users per Congressional District. Of the top five districts in the U.S., Alabama placed two. Think about that.

The number one district in the country is Alabama's Fourth Congressional District which includes: 

Franklin, Colbert, Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Walker, Winston, Cullman, Lawrence, Marshall, Etowah, and DeKalb counties, plus parts of Jackson, Tuscaloosa, and Cherokee counties.

Lauderdale Countians? You can breathe a sigh.

*****

Hey, gang, Roy Moore is holding a news conference tomorrow. Yes, he's going to announce his latest lawsuit.

Okay, we hear several groans and at least one reader snoring. Don't take it out on us...not our fault at all.