Over the past two decades, the rate of overdose deaths from prescription painkillers known as opioids has quadrupled in the United States. Federal authorities say 78 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. Health care officials in Montana report that the abuse here is worse than the national average. But the casualties of the opioid epidemic are not all addicts and drug abusers.
The others call themselves pain refugees. They say that finding doctors willing to help them in Montana is almost impossible, and the only way they can get the treatment and relief they need is to fly out of state.
On a recent mid-afternoon flight out of Missoula, Gary Snook is among three chronic pain patients leaving in search of relief.
Read Full Article »