New study shows Americans are more likely to die from an Opioid overdose than in a car crash

For the first time on record, Americans are now more likely to die from an opioid overdose than from a motor vehicle crash.

The numbers from the National Safety Council are staggering…

Nearly 50,000 Americans die from opioid overdoses each year, a figure that represents more than 70% of drug related deaths annually.

“The most common reason that people accidentally die in this country is because of an accidental overdose on Opioids. It’s not because patients are intending to overdose, it happens accidentally and unintentionally and so that’s the scary part,” said Bryan Medical Center Pain Management Physician Dr. Kelly Zach.

Each day, more than 130 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids.

The amount of deaths has increased every year since 1999.

Last year, president Trump declared the crises a national emergency.

Dr. Zach says he tries to minimize the amount of opioids he prescribes for patients as much as possible.

“You may be taking the medications as prescribed, the way your provider prescribed them for you, but things can happen such as your body’s ability to clear the medication can decline or you may mix it with something else you are taking that may contribute to the overdose event,” said Dr. Zach.

Mixing with alcohol, cough medicine or anti anxiety medication can increase the risk of fatal complications.

opioids are best served treating patients with acute or short term pain.

Chronic pain is an area where more natural alternative methods are safer.

“We have found that opioids really don’t treat chronic pain very well, and so we try other things like injections or alternative medications or physical therapy, rehab, those types of treatments,” said Dr. Zach.

Here in Lincoln, Lancaster County Sheriff deputies starting using Narcan Nasal Spray to treat opioid overdoses.

This began last summer in an effort to save lives.

As far as access goes, Dr. Zach also wants to see stricter regulations.

“The amount of opioid prescriptions that are given out will decrease, which they already are. I think to follow that will be reduction in overdose events or even any adverse events that happen from opioids.”

Efforts continue to try and curb this problem.

Congress passed a bill in 2018 aimed at finding less addictive drugs and expanding access to treatment.