The use of narcotics was evidenced in a recent article in the Journal of Workers Compensation, which estimated that narcotics account for an almost 40 percent of workers' compensation medication costs. And while narcotics can be beneficial in the treatment plan of an injured worker, there are serious risks involved when they are not used properly.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), both indicate increasing misuse and abuse of narcotics over the past decade. SAMHSA data shows that there was a significant increase from 2000 to 2006 in the treatment of substance abuse cases related to abuse of opiod analgesics.
The Narcotics' Quandary
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