this is actually legit, Peter. this all sprang from doctors being incentivized by pharmaceutical reps to prescribe certain painkillers. this took place in the 90s.
as people rolled off of those prescriptions, they found they still liked opioids (even after the pill bottle was empty). those patients, in order to continue treating the pain, or to stem the pain of addiction, turn to black market sources. and we get here.
but let me specifically explore why the pharm companies are very complicit in all this:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-prescription-painkiller-overuse-met-20160324-story.html
they are so overprescribed that they had to raise the production limits:
that we havent experienced a doubling of people with pain, i find it odd that it was necessary to raise the limit that many years to match supply. why did supply go up?
also, the legal climate has less liability in prescribing something they dont need but ask for, rather than not giving it to them and getting sued. and doctors getting paid extra to suggest certain drugs, even if they arent the most efficient.
but, this is so fucking unfair for those that actually have chronic pain and need these drugs. we can only hope that the removal of those using the drugs improperly, will return the demand down enough that the decreased supply should be enough for those with a true medical need
as people rolled off of those prescriptions, they found they still liked opioids (even after the pill bottle was empty). those patients, in order to continue treating the pain, or to stem the pain of addiction, turn to black market sources. and we get here.
but let me specifically explore why the pharm companies are very complicit in all this:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-prescription-painkiller-overuse-met-20160324-story.html
Quote
Ninety-nine percent of primary care doctors routinely prescribe potentially addictive opioid painkillers for longer than the three-day period recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to survey results released Thursday by the National Safety Council.
The Itasca-based nonprofit also found that doctors routinely prescribe the drugs for unsuitable conditions, such as lower back and dental pain, and that they often overlook nonaddictive medications some research has shown to be more effective.
"Studies have shown that once we get beyond seven days of these opiate prescriptions for acute pain, the outcomes become much worse," said Dr. Donald Teater, the group's medical adviser. " … They get on these for a long time and have a hard time getting off them."
The Itasca-based nonprofit also found that doctors routinely prescribe the drugs for unsuitable conditions, such as lower back and dental pain, and that they often overlook nonaddictive medications some research has shown to be more effective.
"Studies have shown that once we get beyond seven days of these opiate prescriptions for acute pain, the outcomes become much worse," said Dr. Donald Teater, the group's medical adviser. " … They get on these for a long time and have a hard time getting off them."
they are so overprescribed that they had to raise the production limits:
Quote
Starting in 2007, the DEA raised the limit on production of the drug from 70,000 kilograms until it reached a high of 153,750 kilograms in 2013. The limit was slowly reduced over the next three years and then slashed to the 108,510 figure for 2017.
that we havent experienced a doubling of people with pain, i find it odd that it was necessary to raise the limit that many years to match supply. why did supply go up?
also, the legal climate has less liability in prescribing something they dont need but ask for, rather than not giving it to them and getting sued. and doctors getting paid extra to suggest certain drugs, even if they arent the most efficient.
but, this is so fucking unfair for those that actually have chronic pain and need these drugs. we can only hope that the removal of those using the drugs improperly, will return the demand down enough that the decreased supply should be enough for those with a true medical need
I think this has been all over the web recently and it is both infuriating and sad how Big Pharma basically made this problem. And even if it's not painkillers, doctors have been "lobbied" by the companies to prescribe their products, heck, even infant vitamins. It really is all about the money.
