The retail sales of the five most popular painkillers increased 90 percent between 1997 and 2005. Information about painkiller use was released today by the Associated Press based on analysis of statistics from the Drug Enforcement Administration. An amazing 200,000 pounds of codeine, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and meperidine were bought at retail stores during 2005 with oxycodone accounting for most of the increase. In 2005, oxycodone sales were 6 times what they were in 1997.

• The Facts of Painkillers
• Preventing Abuse of Pain Medications
• When Are Pain Medications Appropriate for Arthritis Patients?
• Do Arthritis Patients Vary in Pain Tolerance or Pain Perception?

According to MSNBC, soaring sales are occurring in big cities, suburbs, and rural areas. The highest retail sales of hydrocodone (Vicodin) are being seen in Appalachia. Investigators believe the increase in sales of painkillers is due to:

• an aging population (there will be 54 million elderly people in the United States by 2020)
• marketing campaigns by drugmakers
• acceptance of pain management programs

The downside is that more people are abusing painkillers because of increased availability. Consequently, some doctors are hesitant to prescribe painkillers, even to patients who need them to function. Doctors don't want to be blamed for addictions but that can leave patients with legitimate, chronic pain in a desperate situation.

More Related Resources:

• Guide to Arthritis Pain
• The Pain Relief Quiz
• 10 Ways to Increase Your Pain Levels
• Pain Management: Ways to Manage Your Pain

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