A study has estimated that 20% of Americans have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons, while the number of deaths from accidental drug poisoning has quintupled since 1990. Prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in the United States and most experts concur that the cause is the increased availability of powerful new opioid analgesics. When taken as prescribed, opioids are a safe, effective form of pain management with an addiction rate of only one percent. The rise of pain clinics and online pharmacies however has made it easy for nonmedical users to procure these potent painkillers. The family medicine cabinet is another common source of opioids, as well as sedatives and stimulants, which young people often combine with other drugs and alcohol. Despite many highly-publicised deaths from prescription drug abuse, there persists a popular misconception that using prescription medicines without a prescription is legal, safe, and less addictive than taking recreational drugs. While education programmes for youths and healthcare providers are being introduced to raise awareness of prescription drug abuse, there are calls for increased government regulation over opioid dispensation. Measures such as patient tracking and urine testing could help doctors identify addicts. Some healthcare professionals have expressed concern that restricting opioids in such ways would have an adverse effect on chronic pain sufferers who rely on such medications. Until the pharmaceutical industry develops less lucrative but non-addictive painkillers, there are few alternatives to opioids for treating chronic pain.
Question: Medical professionals do not support proposed government restrictions on the prescription of opioids.
Options:
A. true, B. false, C. uncertain
Answer: C