Huge surge seen in methadone prescriptions nationwide
by Dr. Jon Hallberg, Minnesota Public Radio,Tom Crann, Minnesota Public Radio
St. Paul, Minn. — Doctors are prescribing the drug methadone for pain more and more often. Methadone is a narcotic that has been used for years to wean drug addicts off heroin. Methadone a powerful and effective drug, but is itself highly addictive and in some cases it's deadly.
From 1990 to 2006, there was a huge surge in the number of methadone prescriptions in the U.S. In that same time period, there were nearl five times the number of deaths from methadone.
The FDA now recommends doctors prescribe lower doses of methadone than previous guidelines suggested.
Dr. Jon Hallberg talked with All Things Considered host Tom Crann about methadone and the pitfalls doctors are trying to avoid.
Broadcast Dates
Dr. Jon Hallberg
• Medical CommentatorAssistant professor in family medicine at the University of Minnesota, and medical director at Mill City Clinic.
Tom Crann
• Host, All Things ConsideredTom Crann is the host of All Things Considered for MPR News.
