CRMC: New Policy On Pain Meds April 1

Cheyenne Regional Medical Center is officially launching a new protocol on pain medications on April 1.

Tracy Garcia, CRMC Director of Trauma and Emergency Services, says the new protocol will include a system for tracking how often patients in the emergency department have received and been prescribed opiate pain medications.

If there seems to be a concern with overuse of the medications the emergency department will send a letter to the patient and their primary care provider about the patients use of the drugs.

The goal is to manage the patients use of the painkillers and make sure it doesn't become a health issue.

Garcia says the abuse of prescription drugs is a serious health problem across the country. She says  prescription painkillers now account for more deaths from overdose than cocaine and heroin combined, killing more Americans than automobile accidents.

She says Wyoming has the 15th highest death rate from prescription drug overdoses in the country.