Purdue Pharma Backs Away From Marketing Opioids
The makers of OxyContin, Purdue Pharma, recently stopped marketing opioid drugs to doctors amidst controversy and lawsuits. Purdue has received significant backlash for exaggerating OxyContin’s safety and minimizing the dangers. As the national opioid epidemic conversation continues to gain traction, more pharmaceutical companies may decide to change opioid sales and marketing tactics. The decision by Perdue is beneficial for those battling the cultural epidemic, but it will take a larger movement to shift the tide of the national crisis. Rather, to majorly impact the prescription opioid culture across the United States it will require collaborative efforts from the government, pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers.
An Opportunity for Therapists Arises
Alas, recent developments in state and federal government combating the opioid epidemic may gather momentum per the announcement of support coming from the executive branch. The Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency. As a result, lawmakers have reacted by developing bills placing stricter regulations on opioids. Though, physical therapy and occupational therapy stand in unique positions to give doctors and other healthcare providers an effective and safe pain management for patients without using pain medicine. With that being said, in combination with the recent repeal of the therapy cap, changes in Washington could benefit therapists by encouraging hospitals and medical businesses to first look to sustainable therapy treatments.
To shed light on therapy as a pain management option, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) contributed to the conversation by launching the ongoing #ChoosePT campaign. The campaign emphasizes the practicality and long-term benefit of choosing physical therapy over prescription medicine.