November 30, 2012 (Press-News.org) Addiction has a crippling effect on one's life. A study performed by a research group based out of Cambridge, Massachusetts, found that many physicians do not properly monitor injured workers after prescribing painkillers. By ignoring treatment guidelines, many injured workers become addicted to drugs such as Oxycontin or Vicodin after long-term use.
Another study done by the Workers Compensation Research Institute has shown that one in 12 injured workers that are prescribed painkillers were still using these opioids three to six months after their injury and many of them did not receive recommended psychological evaluations during treatment.
Fatalities linked to painkillers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that strong painkillers account for a threefold increase in overdose deaths since 1999. Reports show that opioid overdoses kill more people each year than cocaine and heroin combined. Though these are high numbers, the state of Massachusetts reported a decrease from 11 percent to 7 percent between 2007 and 2011 among injured workers who were long-time users of painkillers. This decease may be partly due to a mandatory physician education program implemented during that time.
Local efforts to battle the problem
As part of its mandatory physician education program, in 2010, Massachusetts passed a law that required physicians to attend training on how to identify "patients at high risk of abuse" of narcotics and how to effectively monitor and treat them. This training is required for renewal of their physician's license.
Massachusetts has also created a Prescription Monitoring Program, a website to keep patients from hopping from doctor to doctor in order to receive painkillers. Physicians will be required by law to sign up for the site, and they will be able to see if their patients have received painkillers from other prescribers within the last year.
Potential impact on injured workers
Painkillers may be necessary to treat injuries, but because they are so readily available, many patients end up with extra pills when they are no longer necessary. This increases the potential to abuse them. Abusing prescription drugs has resulted in many workers continuously missing work, overdosing or dying from an overdose. In Massachusetts and across the nation, physicians have a duty to not only prescribe drugs to keep patients from suffering, but to also monitor the situation to make sure that the use does not turn into abuse.
Workers' compensation and treatment for injuries
An employee who is hurt on the job and receiving workers' compensation must be able to rely on the doctor to help them work towards recovery, and irresponsible treatment can lead to further problems for the worker and their families. An injured worker should consult a workers' compensation attorney who can handle not only the claims process but also help the employee by helping to monitor the treatment process.
Article provided by Pulgini & Norton LLP
Visit us at www.pulgininorton.com
Massachusetts Monitors Injured Workers and Prescribed Opioid Use
A study performed by a research group based out of Cambridge, Massachusetts, found that many physicians do not properly monitor injured workers after prescribing painkillers.
2012-11-30
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Yosemite-Area Resort Settles Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Charges
2012-11-30
The operating company of Tenaya Lodge near California's Yosemite National Park settled an employee complaint of sexual harassment and retaliation, according to a November 2012 news release by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, called the EEOC.
Following an investigation by the Fresno Local Office of the EEOC, the company settled the complaint for $195,000 without admitting any liability.
Role of the EEOC
The EEOC is the federal agency charged with enforcing federal discrimination in employment laws. With more than 50 field offices across the country ...
Fatal Crashes Involving Commercial Trucks Decrease in Louisiana
2012-11-30
Crashes between cars and commercial trucks are particularly devastating because of the sheer size differences between the vehicles. These crashes often involve serious injury or even death.
In an attempt to address the problem, Louisiana has put the Department of Public Safety in charge of truck safety. The issue used to be the responsibility of the Department of Transportation. Since the change, fatal truck accidents in Louisiana have dropped by 44 percent.
In addition, a new federal law has spurred truck companies to pay more attention to their safety requirements. ...
Can Fish Oil Supplements Reduce Veterans' Suicide Risk?
2012-11-30
According to the Veterans Administration, suicide rates among veterans are nearly twice as high as the general population, and account for 20 percent of the suicides nationwide.
In an effort to combat the high veteran suicide rate, the VA, the Medical University of South Carolina and the National Institutes of Health have launched a joint investigation into whether omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil can lower suicide risks.
Omega-3s are the primary fats in the brain and are necessary for neural function and brain development; previous studies have shown that omega-3s ...
Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Airport Hotel Welcomes a New General Manager
2012-11-30
The Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Airport Hotel (North), located near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, recently named Anil Patel their new General Manager. The premier Hartsfield hotel is pleased to welcome Mr. Patel to this position, in which he brings over 20 years of hospitality experience to the property. Patel is an experienced professional whose background includes asset management, hospitality operations, and financial analysis.
Prior to joining the Hilton Garden Inn team, Patel most recently served as an Asset Manager for DCT Group and before that ...
The Atlanta Pool Repair Experts at Pinnacle Pool Services Encourage Enjoying Your Pool Even in the Winter With A Heated Pool Conversion
2012-11-30
The weather outside may be frightful, but that shouldn't keep anyone from enjoying their pool year round. The Atlanta pool repair professionals at Pinnacle Pool Services recommend that Atlanta residents who want to swim despite the weather consider converting their pools into heated pools.
Though Atlanta winters are relatively mild in comparison to much of the country, Atlanta residents know that the weather still inevitably gets too cold to use an unheated pool. Converting your pool to a heated pool can considerably increase your available swimming season.
Even during ...
Automotive Recyclers Warn Ohio Citizens: Senate Bill 273 is Now More Dangerous Than Ever
2012-11-30
The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) and the Ohio Auto and Truck Recyclers Association (OATRA) expressed their deep concern with an untenable amendment to Senate Bill 273 that was passed by the Ohio House Insurance Committee this week. The amendment, introduced by Representative Anthony DeVitis, endangers Ohio citizens and further weakens the ability of Ohio law enforcement to access critical information on salvage-titled vehicles and opens salvage auctions to an increasingly large pool of unlicensed and unregulated buyers from in and out of the country.
The two ...
Concurrency To Present Microsoft Cloud Educational Events in Milwaukee, Madison and Chicago
2012-11-30
Concurrency, Inc., the 2012 Microsoft Central Region Partner of the Year, announced today three upcoming educational events for business and IT managers in the Milwaukee, Madison, and Chicago areas. The presentations will cover how cloud technologies can help cut costs and optimize IT functions across organizations.
Nathan Lasnoski, Concurrency's Infrastructure Practice Manager and Microsoft MVP, will share details of Microsoft's new Azure Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) offering. On the Azure platform, companies can stretch their IT budgets by leveraging Microsoft's ...
The Counter Terrorist Magazine Will be Easy to Find During the 2013 Shot Show in Las Vegas - January 15th, Through the 18th, 2013 - Now In Its Ffth Year!
2012-11-30
The Counter Terrorist Magazine's 28th issue will be available at several events including the NRA Life of Duty ATACTV Law Enforcement & Military Range Day and the 3 Gun Nation Pro Series Event. In addition to these key shooting events you can pick up your copy on the show floor at exhibitor booths throughout the Shot Show.
As part of the continuous commitment to make sure that The Counter Terrorist Magazine has the best distribution in the industry, we've partnered with some of the best names in the business to have free copies of the magazine available at their ...
Simplify360 Brings Social Media + Big Data Analytics in Cloud into Korean Market
2012-11-30
Simplify360, the leading Social Media Management Platform for Social Business Analytics and Multichannel Engagement announces its entry into the Korean market with Vibenet, Korea as a strategic business partner.
The company launched the Korean version of its website site followed by the Analytics Engine in the local language. It became one of the few global tools providing Sentiment Analytics in Korean.
"Korea is a really interesting market for us to explore. Unlike in India or the US, Korea has many popular local networking sites, which have added new dimensions ...
Prompt Proofing Blog Post: 'Hang Out' Where Your Target Market 'Hangs Out'
2012-11-30
Countless marketing articles circulate on the web and in business magazines, giving many useful tips on how to market your business. However, many of them don't identify the root cause of many marketing plans' failures.
So many marketing plans fail to get off the ground because people don't actually sit back and take the time to consider to WHOM they are marketing. Identifying your ideal client - and therefore finding out your target market - is a necessary step in setting up any business, as it helps to ensure you waste no resources or time in marketing to the wrong ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Scientists target ‘molecular machine’ in the war against antimicrobial resistance
Extending classical CNOP method for deep-learning atmospheric and oceanic forecasting
Aston University research: Parents should encourage structure and independence around food to support children’s healthy eating
Thunderstorms are a major driver of tree death in tropical forests
Danforth Plant Science Center adds two new faculty members
Robotic eyes mimic human vision for superfast response to extreme lighting
Racial inequities and access to COVID-19 treatment
Residential segregation and lung cancer risk in African American adults
Scientists wipe out aggressive brain cancer tumors by targeting cellular ‘motors’
Capturability distinction analysis of continuous and pulsed guidance laws
CHEST expands Bridging Specialties Initiative to include NTM disease and bronchiectasis on World Bronchiectasis Day
Exposure to air pollution may cause heart damage
SwRI, UTSA selected by NASA to test electrolyzer technology aboard parabolic flight
Prebiotics might be a factor in preventing or treating issues caused by low brain GABA
Youngest in class at higher risk of mental health problems
American Heart Association announces new volunteer leaders for 2025-26
Gut microbiota analysis can help catch gestational diabetes
FAU’s Paulina DeVito awarded prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Champions for change – Paid time off initiative just made clinical trials participation easier
Fentanyl detection through packaging
Prof. Eran Meshorer elected to EMBO for pioneering work in epigenetics
New 3D glacier visualizations provide insights into a hotter Earth
Creativity across disciplines
Consequences of low Antarctic sea ice
Hear here: How loudness and acoustic cues help us judge where a speaker is facing
A unique method of rare-earth recycling can strengthen the raw material independence of Europe and America
Epilepsy self-management program shows promise to control seizures, improve mood and quality of life
Fat may play an important role in brain metabolism
New study finds no lasting impact of pandemic pet ownership on human well-being
New insights on genetic damage of some chemotherapies could guide future treatments with less harmful side effects
[Press-News.org] Massachusetts Monitors Injured Workers and Prescribed Opioid UseA study performed by a research group based out of Cambridge, Massachusetts, found that many physicians do not properly monitor injured workers after prescribing painkillers.