For opioid-driven hospital stays, the death rate has quadrupled in recent years, according to a newly released study.

As well, the mortality rate is alleged to have noticeably increased within the disabled and lower-income white populations. The results from the study, which were published in the journal Health Affairs, detail how the rate has grown considerably and how opioid-driven hospital stays have now gone on to become the largest and fastest growing share of hospitalizations.

According to their data relating to opioid-driven hospital visits around the country, which involved analyzing hundreds of thousands of hospital stays, they found that the rates of mortality in the US have quadrupled between 1993 and 2014. Most of the patients who were coming to the hospital for opioid-related issues weren't very old either, they were alleged to have a mean age of 39 years old.

The opioid crisis has been labeled as a national health crisis and it's one that has been causing a lot of damage in many communities around the country. The recently released data, researchers suggest, signals a need for hospitals to improve their methods when it comes to admitting those who might be using opioids--trying to keep them alive.

In some cases, state lawmakers have sought to sue and seek damages from the opioid industry.

There are multiple lawsuits underway that have been filed against big pharma companies that are accused of contributing greatly to the problem; suppliers, manufactures, and distributors.

It shouldn't come as any surprise that some have pointed the finger at the government either and accused it of contributing heavily to making matters worse with the opioid epidemic. Their strict monitoring of healthcare professionals is alleged to have pushed some users to seek out access to illegal opioids on the black market instead. Not only that, but that their preference for pharma companies to move toward tamper-resistant medication (to prevent crushing and snorting etc) might also have allegedly pushed users to try injecting the drug instead.

A growing number of people in the US are turning to cannabis now as a possible solution to the opioid problem. It's been suggested that it might help to play a valuable role by assisting in tackling various drug addiction issues for different people.

The opioid crisis is one that isn't going to get better overnight, there's no quick-fix. Though, there are many people around the country who are actively engaged in looking for creative solutions that can try and help. The recent data suggesting that opioid-driven hospital stays have significantly increased is troubling, hopefully hospitals will take that information and use it to improve on their strategies so they can boost their overall efficiency.

Pics:
Axios Visuals/Health Affairs
Pixabay

Sources:
https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/abs/10.1377/hlthaff.2017.0689
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/deaths-during-opioid-driven-hospital-stays-have-quadrupled
https://www.azpm.org/p/home-articles-news/2017/12/6/120908-tucson-city-council-considers-joining-opioid-lawsuits/
https://www.axios.com/more-opioid-patients-are-dying-in-the-hospital-2515334855.html

US Patients Dying From Opioid-Related Causes In The Hospital Have Quadrupled

For opioid-driven hospital stays, the death rate has quadrupled in recent years, according to a newly released study.

In some cases, state lawmakers have sought to sue and seek damages from the opioid industry.

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