Washington state's "decade of pain"

From the Healthdecisions.org article:

Ten years ago, the state of Washington began a major push to make sure doctors weren't undertreating pain. The change was revolutionary for people dealing with chronic pain, but it was also a boon for drug dealers and those with addiction problems.

Between 1997 and 2005, the percentage of people using five major painkillers rose 96 percent in Washington state, according to an Associated Press analysis of statistics from the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Oxycodone, commonly known as Oxy Contin, is responsible for most of the increase in this state. Use of oxycodone increased by 500 percent between 1997 and 2005. Use of morphine and hydrocodon, commonly known as Vicodin, also have increased dramatically: morphine by 223 percent and hydrocodon by 166 percent.

I can personally understand the good intentions of this major effort in the state of Washington for adequate treatment of pain. A few years back I was suspected of seeking pain medication (that was before the x-rays came back). Click here to access the article.