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End-of-Life Choices

Trends in end-of-life care show that not only does the care given vary widely from region to region and hospital to hospital, but also patients often don't get the care they prefer. What can be done?

Care Management Puzzle

Chronic diseases and the cost of care are rising. Are disease management programs improving outcomes for patients with complex, chronic conditions?

No Middleman

Under the "direct primary care" model, patients pay a monthly fee for basic medical services. Learn about the history and current landscape of physician practices offering this arrangement.

Special Reports

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Misuse of Prescription Painkillers Becoming More Widespread Among Young Californians

In a California Healthline Special Report by Kenny Goldberg, experts discussed how the recent increase in prescriptions issued for strong painkillers is contributing to a growing problem of prescription drug misuse among young Californians.

The Special Report includes comments from:

  • Tom Lenox, special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration;
  • Michael Plopper, chief medical officer of Sharp HealthCare Behavioral Health Services;
  • Sherrie Rubin, founder and director of the not-for-profit organization HOPE; and
  • Robert Wailes, physician and member of the board of trustees for the California Medical Association (Goldberg, California Healthline, 4/11).

The complete transcript of this Special Report is available as a PDF.

Running Time: 6:02

Reader Comments:
  • 1
  • 04/12/2012
  • Jon Roth

Dr. Popper makes a good point, that physicians do not have ongoing training in the myriad of new drugs coming onto the market and should be working collaboratively with their community pharmacist who is the medication expert. Together they can consider the best medication to prescribe to optimize the targeted therapeutic goals while limiting the potential for abuse.

Also, the CURES program was almost completely defunded last year by Governor Brown through AB97, so that tool for prescribers and pharmacists is no longer viable.



Readers are invited to send feedback to: chl@chcf.org

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