Thomas Frieden MD MPH
Director
Centers For Disease Control And Prevention
Atlanta Georgia
Dear Dr. Frieden
As a concerned physician I feel ethically obligated to inform you that the CDC warnings of “ a causal association between prescription pain medications and the epidemics of overdose deaths” are inaccurate, misleading and harmful to millions of Americans with chronic pain and addiction.
I would urge you to correct the false warnings.
Respectfully
Alen J Salerian MD
Prescription Opiates Have Not Caused The Epidemic Of Overdose Deaths:
The Statistical Evidence 2000-2014
From 2000 to 2014 overdose deaths increased from 3 to 14.7 per 100.000 population , a 4.9 fold increase vs a 4 fold rise in Prescription opiate related deaths which increased from 1.4 to 5.6 per 100.000 population.
The rate of increase was less for prescription opiates than the rate of increase of total overdose deaths.
In 2000 prescription opiates represented 46% of total overdose deaths. In 2014 prescription opiates represented 38% of total overdose deaths a decline since 2000.
CDC Vital Statistics
January 1, 2016 /64 (50); 1378 – 82
http://www. cdc.gov/mmwpObservation
US Deaths 2000 vs 2014
Per 100.000 Population
Overdose 3 14.7
Suicide 10.1 12.9
Prescription opiates 1.4 5.6
Heroin 0.4 3.4
PO/OD % ↓↓↓ 46 38
Heroin /OD % ↑↑↑ 13 22
Observation: US has an epidemic of deaths by suicide and heroin overdose. The percentage of deaths from prescription pain medications in total overdose deaths declined from 46% to 38%.
CDC Vital Statistics
January 1, 2016 /64 (50); 1378 – 82
http://www. cdc.gov/mmwpObservation
CDC False Alarm
By Human Errors
False alarm: Prescription pain medications are responsible for the epidemic of od deaths and heroin overdose deaths. 2014 CDC opiate deaths of 9 per 100.000 population include heroin reinforcing the public alarm about prescription pain medications.
Fact: Deaths from prescription pain medications as a percentage of total overdose deaths have declined from 46% in 2000 to 38% in 2014.
False alarm: Pescription pain medications are responsible for an epidemic of heroine addiction and heroin od deaths.
Fact: No causal link supports an association between prescription pain medications and the epidemics of heroine addiction and overdose deaths. Association is not causation. Heroine addiction and deaths have increased consistent with the rise of the rate of suicides – a reliable benchmark of mental health-possibly reflecting the adverse influences associated with the criminalization of psychiatry and pain medicine.
CDC Vital Statistics
January 1, 2016 /64 (50); 1378 – 82
http://www. cdc.gov/mmwpObservation
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