The cheapest solution?

Such a crisis, and so many paths of attack when it comes to beating back opioid addiction in the United States. But one gaining ground makes sense, is simple to implement and, most of all, is the right thing to do. Doctors should prescribe and encourage pain treatments that are nonaddictive. Reduce the opioid prescriptions except in the most extreme cases. Help people in pain, but not at the risk of their long-term health. Sounds obvious, but as always, it is more complicated than it appears.

Turns out that insurance companies make it easier to obtain potentially addictive drugs over less dangerous painkillers. That’s right. Insurance carriers will pay for drugs that can ruin lives but not the more expensive, less deadly alternatives. In fact, insurers often make it more difficult to receive approval for addiction treatment than to be prescribed the addictive drugs in the first place. That’s exactly the opposite of what needs to happen.

A recent ProPublica and New York Times analysis of Medicare prescription drug plans for 35.7 million people revealed insurance plans that covered common opioids, most not requiring prior prescription approval. However, the plans that covered lidocaine patches, not addictive but more costly than many generic pain drugs, did require prior approval. It is easy to get hooked and expensive and time consuming to find pain relief that is nonaddictive.

That makes no sense considering that the country is in the midst of an opioid crisis. Drug overdoses now are the leading cause of death for Americans under age 50, and some 2 million Americans are believed to be misusing opioids.

Now, attorneys general for 37 states — including New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas — are telling the health insurance industry that such policies must change. State officials already are investigating the whys of this crisis — looking at the practices of pharmaceutical companies, distributors and doctors. Lawsuits are being filed over the epidemic, including one that includes Mora County against opioid manufacturers and distributors. But insurance companies have played a role in the crisis, too.

In a recent letter to America’s Health Insurance Plans, the trade group for insurance companies based in Washington, D.C., the attorneys general urged insurers to change their rules. The key is for providers to emphasize “non-opioid pain management options over opioid prescriptions for the treatment of chronic, non-cancer pain.”

The attorneys general called the opioid epidemic the preeminent health crisis of our time, adding up its toll: “The human cost is even more staggering: Opioid overdoses kill 91 Americans every single day.”

Nonaddictive treatments for pain do not include drugs only — relief can come from massage, acupuncture or physical therapy. Those treatments have to be covered by insurance plans so that people who suffer can obtain care that will not turn into a debilitating addiction. More can be done. Insurance companies are changing policies to monitor how doctors prescribe certain medications and how patients use them. Some companies are limiting coverage of new prescriptions for pain pills to a seven- or 10-day supply.

Obviously, many strategies are needed to curb this epidemic. The key is changing systems that make potentially addictive pills cheaper and more convenient than other ways of stemming pain. Insurance companies are one place to begin.