Free Fall Into Opioid Use

“And I’m free, free fallin’
(Free fallin’, I’m-a free fallin’)
Yeah I’m free, free fallin’
(Free fallin’, I’m-a free fallin’)”

When Tom Petty’s song, “Free Fallin’,” was released in 1989, he probably didn’t expect that his death would occur in October 2017 at age 66 as the result of an accidental free fall into opioid use.

According to National Public Radio, the LA Coroner determined that his death was caused by the accidental overdose of a mix of opioids, including fentanyl. He had been taking these drugs to treat pain from knee problems and a fractured hip, as well as other ailments.

Questions About Opioid Death May Lead to Answers

Petty’s widow, Dana, and daughter, Adria, hope his death will lead to further discussion about the opioid crisis. This is part of the statement they posted on his official web site:

“AS A FAMILY WE RECOGNIZE THIS REPORT MAY SPARK A FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE OPIOID CRISIS AND WE FEEL THAT IT IS A HEALTHY AND NECESSARY DISCUSSION AND WE HOPE IN SOME WAY THIS REPORT CAN SAVE LIVES. MANY PEOPLE WHO OVERDOSE BEGIN WITH A LEGITIMATE INJURY OR SIMPLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE POTENCY AND DEADLY NATURE OF THESE MEDICATIONS.”

Petty may have been self-medicating. The coroner stated that the autopsy found fentanyl, oxycodone, temazepam, alprazolam, citalopram, acetylfentanyl, and despropionyl fentanyl. It is hard to know if these fentanyl metabolites are from prescribed or illicit fentanyl.

It appears that Petty overused his medication, although we can’t be sure about why. But we do know that pain drives some people to use more medication than they are prescribed.

Can Legislation Prevent Opioid Deaths?

How do we prevent overdose deaths, such as Petty’s? Mandating that doctors limit prescriptions won’t work, because some people will find drugs elsewhere to meet their needs. This means that severe pain will control some people’s behavior even when it could lead to death.

The only solution is for pain to be effectively treated without the risk of addiction or drugs that can cause respiratory depression. If medications are going to be required for pain, then we need to find safer and more effective therapies. Finding effective, safer medication without compromising the needs of pain patients should be the the goal of every responsible health professional.

There is reason to hope it will happen.

Introduced by Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Representative Peter Welch of Vermont, and David B. McKinley of West Virginia on December 21, 2017, the Opioids and Stop Pain Initiative Act (S. 2260/H.R. 4733) proposes investing $5 billion over five years to better understand pain and prevent opioid related harm.

According to Rep. Welch’s web site, the Act would “establish a new large-scale initiative at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand research on opioid misuse.” It would also fund research to find non-addictive alternatives to opioids that could treat pain.

The proposed bill is endorsed by 31 professional organizations and patient advocacy groups including the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the American Pain Society, the Coalition for Headache and Migraine Patients, and the National Patient Advocate Foundation.

Before the legislation is enacted, it needs to pass the House and Senate. It would be helpful if you let your representatives know that you support the Opioids and Stop Pain Initiative Act. Click here to contact your State and Local elected officials. Your voice matters.

Hopefully, this is the type of discussion that the Petty family was hoping for. And, hopefully, it will make a positive difference.