In support of the Nov. 30 Baltimore Sun column about dentists overprescribing opioids, I will share my experience.
Dentists are the sixth highest prescribers of opioids in the United States, a Georgetown University graduate student noted in a Baltimore Sun op-ed published in Tuesday’s Press Herald. Dreamstime/TNS
I got two implants. After one procedure the dentists handed me a prescription for oxycodone. I asked, “What’s this?” He said, “For pain.” I said, “Well, I won’t take it.”
I did take a Tylenol, which was all I needed. I ripped up the prescription paper.
I told him I thought it was wrong to give such prescriptions. The next time he looked at me and said, “You don’t want this, do you?” I said, “You’ve got that.” Obviously my protestations got nowhere. I asked him, “Why?” He said, “I don’t want people calling me at 2 in the morning complaining about pain.”
Other people said I could have filled it and sold it for a lot of money. Of course, I would not. This practice should be stopped!
Delene Perley
Portland
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.