Texas dentists are taking the initiative in helping fight the oipiod addiction problem which is sweeping America, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Dr. B.D. Tiner, who operates San Antonio's Alamo Maxillofacial Surgery Associates, says much of the problem can be traced back to dental practices.
"We know that in young adults, 80% of young adults is when they had their wisdom teeth removed," he said. "And of patients who are given an oipiod prescription, up to 10% of those will have some sort of addiction problem."
Dr. Tiner says that means dentists and dental surgeons have to deal with the problem at its root, by coming up with alternatives to traditional painkillers for patients.
He says a new type of painkiller which is based on the traditional numbing drug novocain has been introduced
."This is a drug that is similar to novocain, and I'm sure everybody at one point has had their jaw numbed with novocain for a filling."
He says he also discusses pain remedies with patients before the treatment to encourage alternatives to traditional painkillers.
Opioid use has become the most serious addiction problem in the country, with more deaths today from opiods than from traditional street drugs like heroin.
Most opioid addicts became addicted when prescribed drugs for pain control, or by snatching the drugs out of a parents' relatives, or friend's medicine cabinet.
IMAGE' GETTY