Following a Hospitalization For Drug Overdose, 1 in 5 Fill Opioid Prescription

(US News and World Report, June 3) Patients with opioid abuse problems who were treated in the hospital for it were still receiving prescriptions for opioids within 30 days of being released from the hospital. According to a study published in Psychiatric Services in Advance, patients were more likely to fill prescriptions for opioids rather than for drugs to help combat the addiction. The researchers surmise that doctors who prescribed the painkillers were unaware of the patient's history, something that many addicts are aware of and take advantage of by going "doctor shopping." READ MORE.