Prince's Death Linked to Opioid Overdose

The death of music icon Prince from opioid toxicity is a sad reminder of the reasons for the strict regulation of opioid prescribing. The Minnesota medical examiner reports today that the 57 year old star’s death was an “accident” caused by the self administration of opioids.

As President Obama commented “addiction doesn’t always start in some dark alley – it often starts in a medicine cabinet”.

Harm to patients from prescribed opioids and other drugs of dependence has become a serious problem over the last two decades.

MDA National has assisted a number of our Members at:

• coronial inquiries into deaths of patients related to prescription medications
• disciplinary inquiries into doctors’ prescribing patterns (not necessarily related to a death).

The doctor who prescribed to Prince the day before his death was “outed” by global media weeks before the  findings were announced: Cops zero in on Minnesota doctor.

Opioid prescribers need to:

• Know your responsibilities under the regulations in your State or Territory.
• Know how to recognise and manage a drug seeking patient.
• Have strategies for managing patients with chronic non-cancer pain.
• Keep up to date with evidence regarding the benefits and harms of opioids.