Zero Deaths Campaign Launched to Stop Deaths from Prescription Painkillers

Almost once a day pain killing drugs prescribed by a doctor kills someone in Utah. “It has escalated tremendously at an alarming rate, which concerns me.” Like most pain specialists, Dr. Lynn Webster has come to rely more and more on prescribing narcotics to control the pain of his patients. But the frightening trend has come almost out of nowhere. “We don’t understand the reasons why so many people have been dying.”

As we reported in March, accidental death from prescription overdose used to be a small problem. About six years ago, it skyrocketed into a leading cause of death. It’s now killing at least 250 Utahns a year, and the numbers keep going up. “That’s an unacceptable level of harm.” As president of the Utah Academy of Pain Medicine, Webster is launching an educational campaign for doctors and patients. 

“Why – is the problem. We don’t understand why.” Even before answers come in, Webster has a starting point for a solution; patients should follow the prescription. “Do not take more than what the doctor says, you do not add another medication to that pain medication, you do not use alcohol in addition to that pain medicine.” Some analysts think doctors have swung the pendulum too far toward narcotics. Webster is concerned it might swing too far the other way, depriving patients of effective treatment.

Back to Press Room