DOCTORS IN NEW MEXICO ARE PRESCRIBING FEWER HIGH DOSE PAINKILLERS. THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS, IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2018, OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS WERE OFF 15 PERCENT FROM THE YEAR BEFORE. THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS RECEIVING DRUGS LIKE VALIUM AND XANAX WERE DOWN MORE THAN 13 PERCENT…WHILE PATIENTS WITH OVERLAPPING PRESCRIPTIONS FROM DIFFERENT HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS DECREASED 21 PERCENT.
THE DEPARTMENT SAYS DESPITE THE IMPROVEMENTS, THE DRUG OVERDOSE RATE IN NEW MEXICO REMAINS FAR TOO HIGH.
