State officials are laying out guidelines for what doctors should consider before they prescribe addictive painkillers.
Gov. John Kasich’s opiate action team’s new prescription guidelines for acute pain ask doctors to go to pain-relieving therapy first, such as ice, heat and acupuncture. If a doctor does prescribe opiates, the guidelines ask that a minimum amount of pills are doled out and they avoid automatic refills.
Michael Kelly is the medical director for the OhioHealth hospital system, and says doctors are unwittingly contributing to the drug epidemic.
“We must do everything we can to stop contributing to the disease and instead contribute to the cure,” said Kelly.
These guidelines are voluntary and the state has no way of mandating the suggestions. However, the state hopes that groups, such as Kelley’s OhioHealth will take it upon themselves to insert these guidelines into their own policies.