Many people have heard the term “Minnesota Nice,” but the term “Minnesota Tough” may soon be a new moniker after it was revealed that Minnesota was among the lowest per capita states for pain pill prescriptions.

The report published earlier this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assessed painkiller prescriptions and analyzed how they varied state to state. The study analyzed prescription totals for common painkillers including Vicodin and OxyContin, and the findings uncovered an alarming trend about painkiller prescriptions, particularly in southeast.

Alabama had the highest rate of prescriptions, followed closely by Tennessee, West Virginia, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Louisiana. Doctors in the south also had higher prescription rates for antibiotics and stimulants for children.

The study wanted to pinpoint the problemed states after some concerning overdose death trends emerged over the last few years. In 2011, 41 percent of the 41,000 overdose deaths were from prescription pain meds.

“Prescriptions go up, deaths go up. Prescriptions go down, deaths go down,” said CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden.

Frieden added that more drug monitoring programs at the state level and more laws aimed at shutting down “pill mills” are two main ways local and national governments could help curb prescription painkiller overdoses.

Minnesota’s Number Encouraging

Although the exact numbers aren’t known, USA Today published a color-coded map that determined whether a state’s total painkiller prescription per capita total was low, medium, high or very high. Minnesota was one of 13 states to earn the “low” distinction along with Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming.

Aside from being tough, it appears that Minnesotans are aware that pain care needs to be a multi-faceted approach. There is no magic pain pill. Prescriptions need to be combined with diet, exercise, physical therapy and help from a trained professional if you want to give yourself the best chance to live a pain free life.

Keep it up, Minnesota.

Related source: Lee County Courier