\
With Israel seeing a 90% increase in prescriptions for opiates, the Health Ministry has begun taking initial steps to limit their use. In US, opiate addiction has already been declared a public health crisis.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Opioid are narcotic drugs that affect the central nervous system and serve as heavy-duty painkillers. The drugs, which include fentanyl, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Percocet, and Tramadol, are considered some of the strongest, and are addictive.
According to Health Ministry data, the years 2017-2021 saw a 70% increase in the number of units of opioid medications sold in Israel, and the percentage of Israelis using opioids has risen some 5.5% since 2017.
However, the Health Ministry is still refusing to label opioid medications as addictive. Next week, the High Court of Justice will rule on a petition submitted about labeling opioids.
Doctors for Human Rights and Lealtar – the Narcotic Patient Support and Assistance Foundation filed a petition against the Health Ministry and drug companies Teva, Taro Pharmaceutical Industries, Dexcel Pharma, and Rafa, demanding that opioid drug packaging be clearly labeled to inform consumers of the dangers of addiction and side effects, which other than drug dependence can include behavioral changes, increased pain, and depression.
"The opioid crisis in Israel is already here, but the authorities aren't battling it and the results will be destructive," the petitioners wrote. The petition includes data showing that from 2008-2018, the number of opioid users in Israel increased threefold.
"In recent years, the pharmaceutical companies have convinced many doctors that there is no danger in prescribing strong opiates. Many patients assume that if a painkiller is prescribed by a doctor, it won't be dangerous. The patients know about the risk of drugs like heroin or morphine, but a name like "Fenta" sounds safe, even though it's 50 times stronger than heroin.
"Opioid users aren't aware of the side effects. Leaving things in small print on the informational leaflet isn't enough," the petitioners argued, asking that pharmaceutical companies be compelled to clearly label the outside of opioid drug packaging.
"Notifying or warning doctors isn't enough, there is a need to notify patients directly, without going through the doctors," the petitioners said.
While balking at the bold labeling the petitioners seek, the Health Ministry is taking action to curb the prescription of opioids. The ministry's director of medicine issued a directive to hospital directors and heads of health management organizations to step up oversight and tracking of opioid prescriptions. According to the directive, a committee will be appointed in every hospital and healthcare organization that will be charged with making non-opiate pain relief solutions accessible.
The directors have been charged with preparing plans to oversee pharmaceutical practices and prescriptions issues in their institutions, and file it with the Health Ministry annually. Every hospital or healthcare organization will assess the scope of opioid use among its patients and locate patients in need of intervention.
The Health Ministry told the High Court that it intends to amend its drug directorate and "stop or limit" doctors who work outside the public health system from issuing handwritten prescriptions for opioids, which are more easily faked. However, the ministry objects to putting clearer warnings on drug packaging and notes that "Even now, the Health Ministry requires appropriate warnings on packages of drugs that contain opiates."
The petitioners think that the ministry's actions do not comprise any major progress. Evyatar Smolsky, chairman of Lealtar, said, "The era of drug addicts with needles in the trash is over. They're all at the health clinics, in pain and suffering. The criminal now is the doctor in the white coat. The words 'careful use of opioids' are misleading. There's no such thing as careful use. Just don't use them."
Physicians for Human Rights and Lealtar said, "The government's response shows that after years of dragging their feet, the Health Ministry is recognizing that there is an opioid crisis in Israel. Some of the steps, such as setting quality parameters and acknowledging that these are dangerous drugs, are important, but we are talking about a change that requires changing laws and will take a long time."
The Health Ministry responded: "The ministry sees great importance in the careful, correct use of opioids. The Health Ministry has begun taking operative steps, as well as issuing a directive, and intends to integrate opioid prescription into the national program for quality oversight in the community. Later on, regulatory changes about the rules for dangerous drugs will be discussed."
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
