Source: CBS
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CBS News obtained VA data through a records request which show the number of prescriptions written by VA doctors and nurse practitioners during the past 11 years. The number of patients treated by VA is up 29 percent, but narcotics prescriptions are up 259 percent.
A dozen VA physicians who’ve worked at 15 VA medical centers told us they’ve felt pressured by administrators to prescribe narcotics and that patients are not being properly monitored.
“I have seen people that have not had an exam of that body part that they’re complaining of pain in for two years,” said a doctor who presently treats pain patients at the VA and had asked not to be identified. “It’s easier to write a prescription for narcotics, and just move along, get to the next patient.”
“We’re letting people come in and prescribing massive doses of narcotics and they also are on drugs for mental health problems,” the doctor continued.
By giving those kinds of quantities of pills, one might assume that requires a rather close eye being kept on the patient. “You would think so. But it isn’t the case,” said the doctor.
We gathered data from five of the states with the most veterans. We found they are dying of accidental narcotic overdoses at a 33 percent higher rate than non-veterans.
Veterans dying from overmedication
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