A new study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine took a closer look at which states dole out the most prescription painkillers for ankle sprains and which ones are more likely to rely on other treatment methods. Considering that opioid overdoses kill roughly 90 Americans a day, it seems like it would be a good idea to take a closer look at how easy it is to get these painkillers for an injury like an ankle sprain, which usually heals just fine with proactive conservative care techniques.
For their study, researchers tallied the number of prescriptions given out for ankle sprains in more than 30,000 emergency departments across the nation from 2011 to 2015. What they found is that a number of northern states are more restrictive when it comes to handing out prescription painkillers, while some southern states hand them out like candy at Halloween.
Opioid Prescriptions For Ankle Sprains
Here’s a closer look at which states were most likely to give out prescription painkillers for ankle sprains:
Arkansas – 40.0%
Kansas – 35.7%
Oklahoma – 31.9%
Alabama – 31.8%
Georgia – 28.6%
Tennessee – 28.5%
Arizona – 28.4%
North Carolina – 27.2%
Texas – 27.2%
The median state-level prescribing rate was 21.3%. Here’s a look at the states that were least likely to hand out prescription painkillers for ankle sprains:
North Dakota – 2.8%
West Virginia – 6.5%
New York – 9.3%
New Jersey 10.9%
Michigan 11.7%
New Hampshire – 12.5%
Pennsylvania – 13.2%
Minnesota 13.9%
Another concerning note from the study was that patients who were given longer opioid prescriptions were five times more likely to fill future scripts over the next six months than those given shorter prescriptions.
“It’s concerning because these larger prescriptions, which are generally not super common for this condition but very common for other conditions, are associated with transitions to prolonged opioid use,” said lead author Dr. Kit Delgado, an emergency medicine physician and health services researcher with the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
Now, this study isn’t to shame doctors who are prescribing opioids for ankle sprains. Painkillers can play a crucial role in the management of serious ankle conditions. However, doctors really need to take the time to assess each patient they see on an individual level and make the care decision that is best for them. If doctors are feeling rushed or pressured from the top down, they may be quick to lean on opioids, and that can lead to huge problems down the road if abuse begins.
We owe it to our patients to provide them with the best care possible. Sometimes that involves painkillers for ankle sprains, other times it doesn’t. But we need to take the time with each patient to make that evaluation to give them the best chance of making a full and healthy recovery.