Prescription for Abuse (2012) Opioid Crisis Documentary

Introduction

This 2012 documentary is narrated by Rosemary Orr, a doctor at the Seattle Children’s Hospital who lost her son to an opioid overdose. KCTS 9 interviewed her about her son’s death and then later asked if she would participate in this documentary. She reports on the alarming increase in prescription drug abuse in Washington, the lack of regulation in the medical community, the lack of treatment options, and how the opioid crisis is quickly worsening.

There is also a 30 minute panel discussion to watch as well.

Quotes

“In many ways my son’s death was not an end, it was the beginning of a journey learning about this terrible problem. Since Robin died, I’ve discovered [that] a combination of overprescribing and underregulation have contributed to the skyrocketing abuse of prescription drugs, how it often leads to heroin abuse, and how, if trends continue, we will likely see even more overdoses and deaths.”

“He saw heroin as a dangerous drug but not prescription painkillers because they were prescribed by a doctor. Like many others, he thought that gave them the stamp of safety.”

“One consequence of prescription opioid abuse is that the face of drug addiction is changing. When we think of addiction, we tend to think of back in the alley drug addicts, needles and homelessness and that’s not who we’re talking about … They’re getting younger and younger … between the ages of 15 and 25.”

“When drugs like Oxycontin and Vicodin aren’t readily available in the medicine cabinet, addicts will often seek them by pretending to be hurt or sick. It’s called doctor shopping.”

“I would rather have somebody go home with 10 pills and have to come back and see me then go home with 30
pills, leave 20 in their bathroom cabinet and then have their son come in and have a pharming party, where they pull the pills out and dump them in a bowl and take them.”

“Nobody, they’re independently wealthy, can afford to keep an oxycontin habit going, period. Eventually they’re going to they find out that heroin is cheaper and does the exact same thing.”

“The 911 Good Samaritan Law – designed to let people know that they should call 911 if there’s if somebody is possibly overdosing and that they will have immunity from prosecution for possession of drugs if they call to get help.”

“Since Robin died, I have also helped start an organized called PROP, Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribring. Our mission is to educate doctors and promote safe and responsible prescribing practices.”