American Addict

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Fascinating documentary. Shows that America commands 5% of the world's population, yet consumes 80% of narcotics. So many deaths through illicit drug use We turned our focus away from drugs and onto a war on terror, and guess who's back?!

 

[LuvOrlando]

Probably because now all pain management is illegal in the US so people who can't make a choice to stay still and heal, can't live without income for 2 years waiting for SSDI or can't endure the agony of moving/working are being forced into the illegal drug marketplace to self medicate. Some do it for fun, of course, but I imagine a great many people are just desperate to end painful suffering & end up in a bad situation

 

[kanerf]

Not too mention rampant untreaded mental illness as well.

 

[RamblingMad]

This thread makes me want to watch some Miami Vice.

 

[C&Jx2]

American medicine/dentistry is hugely responsible for where we are in the opioid epidemic. Opioids are over prescribed and under monitored. There are safety checks in place (risk assessment, followup, etc...) but they're often ignored. Most people don't wake up and decide to have an opioid addiction.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Contrary to my viewing material, I actually appreciate the benefits drug therapy can offer, from Sertraline to Clozapine. What irks me is the culture that surround them - if a patient is clinically depressed, for instance, the knee jerk reaction should be drug therapy complementing therapy, such as CBT or EMDR. Additionally, big Pharma should be more regulated, finance wise. As it is, many doctors are plied by hype surrounding new drugs that aren't necessarily suitable. Case in point: for depression, the drug Aripiprazole CAN be prescribed as a commentary drug to a first line antidepressant, such as Mirtazapine or Fluoxetine. However, it is often prescribed on its own - not preferable, as it is technically an antipsychotic. It CAN be done, carefully, but that's not how the machine works is it? Hi doc, I feel low. Really? You must be depressed. Have some Aripiprazole.

 

[Colleen27]

American medicine/dentistry is hugely responsible for where we are in the opioid epidemic. Opioids are over prescribed and under monitored. There are safety checks in place (risk assessment, followup, etc...) but they're often ignored. Most people don't wake up and decide to have an opioid addiction.

There is truth to this but it is also much more complicated. A lot of the doctors who were overprescribing - not all, there were those in it for the money - also didn't wake up one day and think that's what they wanted to do with their medical training. They want to help patients to the best of their ability, but when a patient can't afford proper treatment for an underlying issue, pain management is often all that the doctor can offer. And as LuvsOrlando pointed out, efforts to "solve" the overprescribing issue without dealing with why it developed in the first place has only complicated the problem further. Then, of course, there's the fact that once people develop an addiction, access to treatment depends on stability and resources few addicts can maintain.

The whole situation is tied into our broken, for profit health care system in so many ways, but because of those ties, I don't real expect we'll ever see meaningful solutions.

 

[C&Jx2]

There is truth to this but it is also much more complicated. A lot of the doctors who were overprescribing - not all, there were those in it for the money - also didn't wake up one day and think that's what they wanted to do with their medical training. They want to help patients to the best of their ability, but when a patient can't afford proper treatment for an underlying issue, pain management is often all that the doctor can offer. And as LuvsOrlando pointed out, efforts to "solve" the overprescribing issue without dealing with why it developed in the first place has only complicated the problem further. Then, of course, there's the fact that once people develop an addiction, access to treatment depends on stability and resources few addicts can maintain.

The whole situation is tied into our broken, for profit health care system in so many ways, but because of those ties, I don't real expect we'll ever see meaningful solutions.

Oh it’s super complicated for sure and you’re absolutely correct. I do most my research for my BSN on this topic. I just didn’t feel like completely delving into it.

I actually got halfway through typing out an example about someone perhaps being unable to pay for expensive dental work (dentists are some of the worst culprits in reference to this topic) and having to manage the pain long-term using prescribed pain medications but got too lazy to finish it. I’m tired! Lol