THE OPIOID CRISIS
This was posted previously but it is worth bringing up again..
This crisis was created by the pharmaceutical industry by racketeering medical doctors and hospitals just for profit.
Why is the government doling out and throwing tax payer money to this issue?
Should the parties responsible for creating this problem not made to pay?
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11 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.There is profit in pain. Americans need to change their lifestyle & stop looking for a pill to fix everything. They won';t because gluttony, spoiled by their unappreciated wealth (compared to the rest of the world), & their need to be satiated immediately, condemns Americans to a life of disease & disfunction. Everyone else should change but not them. Find a cure instead of prevention.
Mooolah
Level 8
May 8, 2019
0
A rational approach to "recreational" pharmaceuticals:
[thetyee.ca]
PBuck0145
Level 7
May 6, 2019
0
Opioid-make CEO convicted of racketeering for bribing doctor to prescribe addictive painkillers.
LiterateHiker
Level 9
May 3, 2019
3
This is simply capitalism at it's worst. More money for the corporation and nothing but addiction and death for the patients. I hope these people do as much time in prison as possible!!!
I know in Canada they overhauled prescribing guidelines, and have sue the the drug companies. We are also looking a Nordic models of harm reduction (Medical heroin) but unfortunately we are being more reactive than proactive because of the ignorance and denial for so many years. But to answer your question I think drug costs is ridiculous in the US.
nikkir
Level 7
May 3, 2019
1
Agree and I think most people in the U.S. know by now about the drug costs in Canada vs. what they are in the U.S. It was a big election issue in 1992 here but we have not been able to do anything about it. The business lobbies are very strong - guns, pharmaceuticals, hospitals, wall street firms, evangelicals - you name it.
We do not discuss in the U.S.how Canada is doing better in healthcare, drug prices and other areas. But I notice it overseas. When I was growing up overseas, the United States was a dream place to come for higher education. But surprisingly, now the children of my friends and the young generation want to go to study in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. When I invite them, I am often get a thanks but no thanks. We are the not the same peaceful and welcoming nation that we were 25-30 years ago. It makes me sad.
@Tiramisu That is one of the huge problems is the lobbyists run the government. Take the money out of it and the same lobbyists will lose the power to change laws and control.
@Tiramisu That would require more than one party to represent the people. (Even Canada is suppose to have 4 parties but only two really have power and are pretty much the same.)
I don’t understand how one can blaming the pharmaceutical industry. I’ve been prescribed pain medication for nearly 20 years. It never got pushed on me and I’ve never become dependent. Now, I can’t get access to the pain treatment I need because of this mess.
We have a much larger problem on the user end.
indirect76
Level 7
May 3, 2019
0
Do you know some people's chemistry develops addiction easier than others' do? Also some people get addicted to tobacco or smoking more easily than other do?
@Tiramisu Yes, of course. That is part of the problem on the user end.
I've been subjected to pressure to take pharmaceutical drugs. It happens.
Opiod addiction affected my mother as well as other members of my family...I saw personally how easily a medication meant to control pain from surgery could easily become addicting to even the most careful person...especially those who trusted their doctor...
Drug companies need to be responsible for helping families affected adversely...
thinktwice
Level 8
May 3, 2019
1
I agree. Although I am not a good candidate to discuss personal experiences in many areas, I read and hear about these serious issues all the time. I have not seen a real physical gun in my life, nor seen what illegal drugs look like nor any one gun shot or seriously bleeding in real life.
But I but can imagine how pharmaceutical companies and doctors easily push drugs to you. I chatted with my physician who said pharmaceuticals pushing drugs is very real.
I have never seen such a flood of pharmaceutical company commercials that we see these days. It seems like the pharmaceuticals continue to invent an illness or a condition that want to sell a drug for. This can be called Market Making.
@Tiramisu Everything can be fixed with a pill, it seems...actually, the things that make us all healthier are not really pushed much, are they? You don't see a lot of commercials that say get off your fat ass and take a walk around the block...or eat blueberries and not donuts...etc. etc. Yes, the almighty dollar speaks volumes and yet, most people turn up their speakers louder still because a passive activity, ie taking pills, is easier than doing the hard work...sigh...and it has brought us to this point where Mericans are at the bottom in the world on so many issues...you named a few...
@thinktwice Yes, that's what the doctor told me about Viagra. But I found out myself. It is the woman that can fix it. lol
@Tiramisu I think ED can be fixed by diet and not having a belly so large that you can't check on your friend now and then... 
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Correct the root cause of the problem. Most overdose deaths are caused by drugs supplied by criminals and lacking quality control.
Legalized, available over the counter, quality controlled opioids will end the overdose epidemic. Most users of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine remain productive, well-adjusted law-abiding citizens. Without prohibition, most users of "recreational" pharmaceuticals would be the same. There are hundreds of thousands of respectable professionals, politicians and middle class citizens who are regular users, without serious problems (as long as they avoid detection by law enforcement).
Allow addicts to retain some self respect, and give them a fighting chance to kick their addiction. Reduce the prison population and save billions of tax-payer dollars. Remove the revenue stream from the criminals. End drug-related gang violence. Allow law enforcement to focus on their primary function of protecting citizens.
PBuck0145
Level 7
May 3, 2019
0
I don't think they are talking about illegal drugs when they are talking about Opioids. Opioids are drugs pushed by pharmaceuticals, doctors and hospitals.
@Tiramisu But when people become addicted, they often turn to shady sources to get the meds.
Do we really have an opioid epidemic?
zesty
Level 7
May 3, 2019
0
I or any one in my family, extended family or friends is not affected by it but don't we hear about this crisis all the time?
It is an epidemic in my state.
@Tiramisu Sure, we hear about it. However, maybe it is just a politico-invented bruhaha.
The pharmaceutical companies should be responsible for misrepresenting things but first and foremost, individuals need to take responsibility for their own choices. People have known for decades that opioids were addictive. If you depend on doctors to tell you what to do and don't take responsibility for your own health, you'll be at risk for these types of things again and again.
UpsideDownAgain
Level 7
May 3, 2019
2
Then we should also hold liquor companies accountable for the damage done by alcohol. Greater controls and accountability need to be put in place, though.
think-freely
Level 4
May 3, 2019
1
And tobacco and guns and toxic chemicals and religion and politicians, et al.
I agree with accountability, but greater control has a side effect of limiting access for those that really need pain relief. I’ve experienced this myself and it’s pure agony.
@indirect76 I don't think that people that actually need it should not be able to obtain it. I've heard this before.There has to be a solution, such as when meth was the problem, by moving cold medicines that contain the ingredient pseudoephedrine behind the counter, it reduced the production of methamphetamine. However, I don't know what the solution is.
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