KPTV - FOX 12Local doctors fighting prescription pill abuse

It's considered the nation's fastest-growing drug problem, and it may be lurking in your own medicine cabinet. Now local health leaders are taking steps to curb prescription pill abuse, starting at the doctor's office and in the pharmacy.

"I used to be able to walk in somewhere, fake an injury and get a (prescription) to something," said Gary Cobb, who's been sober for more than 10 years. He now works as a community outreach coordinator for Central City Concern Recovery Center.

He says it used to be far too easy to get pills, but it's becoming more challenging as doctors respond to what the CDC calls an epidemic of prescription drug overdoses, a number federal health leaders say has risen five-fold since 1990.

"The diversion is killing people," said Cobb. By diversion, he means drugs ending up in the wrong hands and with potentially deadly results.

"It's very sad.  Kids are getting addicted quicker than ever before," said Cobb. "It's really easy to overdose, accidentally, on some of these drugs."

The CDC says, nationwide, prescription drugs are now involved in more overdose deaths than heroin and cocaine combined. The agency is urging doctors across the country to re-evaluate how they prescribe. 

"We've learned a lot in the past few years," said Dr. Amit Shah, Medical Director for the Multnomah County Health Department.  "These pills are very powerful and, at times, very dangerous."

Dr. Shah says his clinics and healthcare provides are now changing the way they evaluate patients.  He says pills shouldn't always be the first treatment option.

"We have to be very vigilant on screening for substance abuse and misuse," said Shah.

Red flags could include patients asking for brand-name medication, frequently asking for pills and focusing on the medication instead of the pain.

In an effort to track potential abuse, doctors will now submit prescriptions for controlled substances to a state database for healthcare providers and pharmacists.  The Oregon Prescription Drug Monitoring Program is expected to be fully operational starting this September.

"I think there's going to be a lot more communication around these medications," explained Shah. "Knowing that somebody may be getting them from different sources; it may be a sign that they can be dependent or an addiction is happening."

Multnomah County is also working to expand alternative treatment options and therapies to address pain. Central City Concern says it's already found success in a more holistic approach from acupuncture sessions to counseling. CCC is now expanding its clinic to continue to help those managing both pain and addiction recovery.

Gary Cobb says great progress has been made, but more work must still be done.

"We're not going to end disease of addiction overnight," said Cobb.

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