The Hippocratic Oath that physicians take before dedicating their lives to the noble profession of saving lives directs them to uphold specific ethical standards. Unfortunately, however, many are influenced by Big Pharma, which could potentially have a conflict of interest with medical professionals, as their primary goal of expanding their business goes against the doctor: to treat.

With the opioid epidemic causing thousands of deaths year after year, collusion between the medical fraternity and drug manufacturers is often blamed. Doctors have been called out for overprescribing opioid painkillers, even for conditions that could be treated with alternatives. In a recent study conducted by the Grayken Center at Boston Medical Center, doctors who received gifts and other in-kind benefits from drug companies were found to have prescribed more opioids to their patients.

The study’s findings are significant as the government is under increased pressure to stop the crisis by hook or by crook. Researchers have suggested that drugmakers should stop marketing their products to doctors. They are also of the opinion that both the federal and state governments should consider limiting the amount of payments doctors could receive from pharmaceutical companies.

Some significant findings of the study are as follows:

• The three companies associated with the largest payments to physicians were INSYS Therapeutics, Teva Pharmaceuticals, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals. INSYS manufactures Subsys, a fentanyl-based product that comes in the form of a sublingual spray.
• INSYS Therapeutics also accounted for 50 percent of non-research payments. The benefits doctors received for advancing the cause of opioids were free meals, vacations, pay for speaking at seminars, etc. The company is now under federal investigation on charges of marketing the spray to doctors and patients under the guise of a “bogus” educational program. The company has a history of facilitating drug abuse; a former employee had reported that the company engaged in malpractice, such as using the speaker program to force more doctors to prescribe its product, which should ideally be used only for cancer pain. Physicians wrote 30 million in opioid prescriptions for Subsys.
• In 2015, 369,139 doctors prescribed opioids under Medicare Part D. In the prior year, 25,767 (7 percent) of these physicians had received 105,368 opioid-related non-research payments in the amount of more than $9 million. Non-research payments were linked to higher opioid prescribing practices; however, the researchers cautioned against associating cause and effect.
• Payments included lecture fees and/or fees of more than $6 million for 3,115 physicians, meals of nearly $2 million for 97,020 physicians, travel costs of $730,824 for 1,862 physicians, consulting fees of $290,395 for 360 physicians, and $79,660 in training for 3,011 doctors.

Opioid Addiction Help

The opioid crisis is one of the worst public health emergencies the country has ever faced. It has been affecting millions of people across the United States directly or indirectly. Aside from prescription opioids, which are considered the number one public health hazard if used indiscriminately, benzodiazepines and other prescription drugs have also been partly responsible for the country’s grim situation.

Any prescription drug, whether it’s benzodiazepines, opioids, or even the harmless codeine cough syrup, is associated with risks. So while overusing these is bad, even using prescription drugs without being aware of the side effects can be harmful. Subsys, for example, was found to have a poor track record and, since being approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has resulted in 63 deaths according to the Agency’s estimates. So when it comes to prescription drugs, it’s best to ask your doctor about the consequences and ask if there are safer alternatives available.