Doctors over prescribing ‘Hillbilly Heroin’

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An investigation by Medicare has found that as many as 50 doctors have been over prescribing opiate painkillers, the pharmaceutical version of heroin. Dubbed ‘hillbilly heroin,’ OxyContin and OxyNorm are targeted by dealers who “doctor shop” which involves seeking out multiple prescriptions. Police and health experts warn that these pharmaceuticals could soon become the ‘drug of choice’ on the streets and are calling for a national medical database to track prescriptions.

 

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