WASHINGTON - A new analysis by The Associated Press says the amount of the five major painkillers sold at retail in the United States rose 90 percent between 1997 and 2005. The AP is using figures from the Drug Enforcement Administration. More than 200,000 pounds of the drugs were purchased, enough to give 300 milligrams of painkillers to every person in the country.

The DEA figures include nationwide sales and distribution of drugs by hospitals, retail pharmacies, doctors and teaching institutions. AP investigation found these reasons for the increase:

• The population is getting older. As age increases, so does the need for pain medications. In 2000, there were 35 million people older than 65. By 2020, the Census Bureau estimates the number of elderly in the U.S. will reach 54 million.
• Drugmakers have embarked on unprecedented marketing campaigns. Spending on drug marketing has gone from $11 billion in 1997 to nearly $30 billion in 2005, congressional investigators found. Profit margins among the leading companies routinely have been three and four times higher than in other Fortune 500 industries.
• A major change in pain management philosophy is now in its third decade. Doctors who once advised patients that pain is part of the healing process began reversing course in the early 1980s; most now see pain management as an important ingredient in overcoming illness.

Dr. Fishel's comments:

"What is alarming is cause and effect is not addressed here. When someone comes to our clinic for care we address the why. What can be causing this problem? Now more than ever the true message of health needs to be heard. Pain is a side effect of not being healthy. Age and pain levels have nothing to do with each other."