CDC issues plan to help doctors curb painkiller addiction

[KARE 11, March 22, 2016] The U.S. is seeing a growing epidemic of epidemic of prescription painkiller addiction. About 40 Americans die each day from overdosing on prescription painkillers.

To help curb this, the Centers for Disease Control last week issued new recommendations for health care providers who write prescriptions for these medications.

Dr. Keith Olson, a family practice physician with Allina Health Clinics and a member of the Allina Health Controlled Substances Committee talked with KARE 11 News at 4 about what these new guidelines mean.