Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/1079661
t m c » p u l s e | f e b r u a r y 2 0 1 9 37 this is driven by patient expecta- tions, provider expectations, nursing expectations, family expectations. The more you address that, the easier everything else becomes because a lot of pain can be treated with things that are not opioids." In 2013, the Memorial Hermann Red Duke Trauma Institute imple- mented an opioid-minimizing pain cocktail to treat trauma patients. Instead of using hydrocodone, oxycodone or other types of opioids, this cocktail uses high doses of acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gabapen- tin, lidocaine and ketamine to help patients alleviate pain. The use of non-opioid analgesics was very controversial at the time because everyone felt that opioids were the pillar of acute pain man- agement, Harvin said. Since then, though, the institute has reduced in-hospital use of opioids by 40 percent. Opioid overdose falls under the category of unintentional and pre- ventable injuries, the third leading cause of death, preceded by heart disease and cancer, respectively, according to the CDC. "We've made significant strides in overall longevity in the United States, but we are dying from things typically called accidents at rates we haven't seen in half a century," Ken Kolosh, the National Safety Council's manager of statistics, said in a statement. "We cannot be complacent about 466 lives lost every day. This new analysis reinforces that we must consistently prioritize safety at work, at home and on the road to prevent these dire outcomes." Alex Harding, M.D., an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, said the council's report sheds light on how people tend to overestimate certain risks of dying and underestimate the real, prevalent problems that are more likely to cause death. "People should be cognizant of how preventable and actionable some of these things are—whether it's heart disease, cancer or suicide— and recognize that we can be cata- lysts for change and for helping our fellow Americans," Harding said. "We may not recognize what some- one is going through, especially when [opioid use and suicides] have become so prevalent. Addiction is truly a disease. If we start treating it the same way we do heart disease and cancer, with the same kind of compassion, camaraderie and respect for your fellow man, then we can go far." Go further. At the TWU Institute of Health Sciences – Houston Center, you can earn your graduate degree in nursing, nutrition, physical or occupational therapy, health care administration or business. Get the support you need every step of the way. Learn more at TWU.edu/houston • Mental health and substance use treatment for teens and adults • Inpatient and outpatient programs • Specialized inpatient program for First Responders • Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)* for adults No-cost assessments available 24/7. Call 281-918-7670 today. 17750 Cali Drive | Houston, TX 77090 cypresscreekhospital.com With limited exceptions, physicians are not employees or agents of this hospital. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. * Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any medical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is right for you. 183446 Recovery starts here For the longest time, injury had been one of the leading causes of lost life in young people. Now opioid overdoses and other drug overdoses are overtaking that. This happened very quickly. — JOHN HARVIN, M.D. Trauma surgeon at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and associate professor in the division of acute care surgery at UTHealth's McGovern Medical School