Surgeon General, N.J. Senators Urge Doctors To 'Turn The Tide' Against Opioids

LIVINGSTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- The opioid crisis was at the forefront in New Jersey Monday, as U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy made a stop on his nationwide "turn the tide" tour urging doctors to improve prescription practices.

As WCBS 880's Kelly Waldron reported, heroin deaths are up 160 percent since 2010 in New Jersey, and there were more than 1,200 overdose deaths in the state last year alone, according to U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.)

Menendez said overprescribing is a major problem.

"In 2012, there were enough opioid prescriptions issued to give every man, woman and child their own bottle of pills," Menendez said.

Another issue, said U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), is the stigma attached to the disease.

"We've made mistakes in the past by criminalizing drug addiction," Booker said.

Murthy had some advice for physicians.

"Look for non-opioid alternatives," he said.

Murthy added that if opioids must be used, physicians should start them low and go slow.

A recent national survey found that one in ten people addicted to narcotics started out with pain killers prescribed after surgery. But CBS2's Dr. Max Gomez reported Monday that there is an alternative.

One way to ease that early post op pain is with an FDA approved local anesthetic called exparel. Unlike conventional local anesthetics that wear off in a few hours, this drug is encapsulated in a series of tiny fat globules that act as a sort of time release device, maintaining pain control as long as three days.

Meanwhile, an anti-opioid abuse campaign and website has been launched at planagainstpain.com.

The website lets you print out a questionnaire to help discuss your concerns and pain relief options with doctors before surgery.

It won't prevent all addiction, but it will empower patients to be their own advocate.