Insurer Group Advocates Stricter Guidelines for Oxycontin

Insurer Group Advocates Stricter Guidelines for Oxycontin

By Gary Mogel

NU Online News Service, August 11, 10:30 a.m. EDT?The National Association of Independent Insurers, based in Des Plaines, Ill., has announced its support of state legislative initiatives to establish stronger guidelines for distribution of the prescription pain killer Oxycontin.

According to NAII, Oxycontin, which is manufactured by Stamford, Conn.-based Purdue Pharma, was originally approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration to treat severe pain for terminal cancer patients, but is now prescribed widely as a painkiller for other ailments.

In the workers' compensation system, it ranks as the second most prescribed drug in terms of dollars spent, right behind Celebrex, an anti-inflammatory.

"In some states, including California and Oregon, Oxycontin represents about 10 percent of the workers' compensation prescription costs in those states," said NAII vice president, workers' compensation Nancy Schroeder. Abuse of the drug has escalated, in part, because of its huge resale potential and because it provides an effect similar to heroin when ground before taking.

According to Ms. Schroeder, some NAII member companies cited a large increase in the number of prescriptions for Oxycontin and instances where the drug was prescribed to individuals with a history of addiction problems.

"In some states, such as Florida, deaths from prescription drug overdoses are higher than deaths from overdoses of cocaine and heroin," Ms. Schroeder said. "Abuse of oxycodone and hydrocodone, the generics of Oxycontin, continue to rise along with a surge in methadone abuse," she added.

"The dilemma in all of this is how to stop the abuse while allowing those workers that legitimately need the drug for pain relief to get it."

Ms. Schroeder noted that no state is currently actively looking at Oxycontin guidelines, as the issues surrounding the drug are relatively new.