Changes to Rx Dispensing, Monitoring Needed to Curb Opioid Epidemic

A group of experts, led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, are recommending several health care changes aimed at curbing the prescription opioid epidemic, a crisis that is killing an average of 44 people a day in the U.S.

The new recommendations were developed by professionals from medicine, pharmacy, injury prevention, and law with input from patient representatives, insurers, and drug manufacturers.

The report, calls for the following changes:

• how medical students and physicians are trained;
• how prescriptions are dispensed and monitored;
• how first responders are equipped to treat overdoses;
• and how those with addiction are identified and treated.

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