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OxyContin's 12-hour problem

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Re: OxyContin's 12-hour problem

#151
post #113

The problems derive from the prohibition, which takes several forms. The forms add up for big profits and bad incentives, for which the consumer pays. FDA approval is the first layer of prohibition. Very expensive, this keeps a lot of competitors out. Lots of market (read: pricing) power is conferred to the winners. Great incentive is provided for regulatory capture. The second layer is patent protection. Again, comp…

Can you explain more how competition, availability, and legality will stop the more addiction-prone (low-income, chronic pain among other health problem) parts of society in America from doing drugs and becoming addicted? If I read your argument correctly, it's that the pharma firms will not market it as much and not profit as much. In my mind that's not enough reasoning that people who simply have a bad situation wo…

Controlled legalization of other currently illegal drugs may or may not have benefits that can't be proven yet due to research of these drugs being illegal. There is empirical evidence that certain psychedelic drugs may reduce or eradicate opiate addiction. Even if these drugs were also addictive, it may be that the harm they cause is orders of magnitude less than opiates or similar. Replacing one problem with a lesser one is indeed a better outcome than what we have now.

None of this will be known, though, until certain deregulation and controlled legalization occurs.

Re: OxyContin's 12-hour problem

#152
post #113

The problems derive from the prohibition, which takes several forms. The forms add up for big profits and bad incentives, for which the consumer pays. FDA approval is the first layer of prohibition. Very expensive, this keeps a lot of competitors out. Lots of market (read: pricing) power is conferred to the winners. Great incentive is provided for regulatory capture. The second layer is patent protection. Again, comp…

Can you explain more how competition, availability, and legality will stop the more addiction-prone (low-income, chronic pain among other health problem) parts of society in America from doing drugs and becoming addicted? If I read your argument correctly, it's that the pharma firms will not market it as much and not profit as much. In my mind that's not enough reasoning that people who simply have a bad situation wo…

> addiction-prone (low-income

Are low-income people more likely to become addicted? I'd like to see some statistics.

A few thoughts:

* There are many more low-income people than wealthy people, so low-income addicts may be greater in sheer numbers but not in rate.

* I expect that addition tends to reduce income, so people who started wealthier may become low-income

* Prescription opiods are by reputation the wealthy person's heroin. Given the high cost of presecription drugs, and that low-income people sometimes can't even afford drugs necessary for their health, I wonder if Oxycontin is widely abused in low-income groups.

Re: OxyContin's 12-hour problem

#153
post #19

It's quite simple: Don't do drugs. Next question please.

> It's quite simple: Don't do drugs. Why not? Because they can be dangerous and require precautions to be taken before use? Should I stop driving cars too?

> Should I stop driving cars too?

Coming soon.

Re: OxyContin's 12-hour problem

#155
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your response seems unnecessarirly harsh. Please be more civil (HN strives for civility) and understand that HN has a global audience with differing laws (the parent could use this same perspective that HN is global).

"I think your opinion is illegal" as a way of shutting someone down deserves quite a harsh response.

Meh. I think I feel what you do too. I do think everyone needs thicker skin and that we'd all be better if we did. However, just because we can lash out, and others can take a lashing, I think it's more effective to kindly point out someone's absurdity. They may have yelled first, if you yell back, no one can hear amongst all the noise. Bullying, regardless of what side one is on, is always a bad way to try and shut someone down. I don't believe the end justify the means.

Re: OxyContin's 12-hour problem

#157
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your response seems unnecessarirly harsh. Please be more civil (HN strives for civility) and understand that HN has a global audience with differing laws (the parent could use this same perspective that HN is global).

> Your response seems unnecessarirly harsh. Please be more civil (HN strives for civility) and understand that HN has a global audience with differing laws (the parent could use this same perspective that HN is global). If HN is American, the poster is American, and the subject of conversation is American, I'm not sure why we should give a damn that some other country has oppressive and censorious libel laws. In Thai…

I would argue against the laws. I wouldn't harshly respond, or make a claim against their character, to someone who may not know that you can speak ill of the President in the U.S. I'd try to educate them and expose them to the fact that not everyone and every culture observes the same rules. That's all I'm trying to point out and say.

Re: OxyContin's 12-hour problem

#158
post #7

The pervasiveness of OC provided by doctors is amazing. Even as of a year ago, I went into the hospital for back pain and left with a script for two fist fulls of oxy. I looked at the doctor and legitimately thought he was trying to get me hooked. And this was at a world renowned hospital. I have to wonder if Purdue is involved in some kickbacks to Dr's who (over)prescribe.

I fractured my tibia recently and the urgent care gave me a short prescription for Percocet (which contains oxycodone like Oxycontin and also acetaminophen). I didn't end up picking it up as I don't have a car and mobility is understandably limited when you've fractured your tibia, but the past the first day the pain wasn't bad enough to need it anyway, and ibuprofen sufficed. And I am a wimpy person who does not do…

> Experiencing pain has a limited risk potential in most people, especially when the pain is linked to a temporary condition

While I may have agreed with this years ago, I'm pretty sure the research shows otherwise.

Also, I'm not sure why pain is considered less important than other medical outcomes. For example, would you rather live in constant pain or lose a pinkie finger? I'd lose the finger and get on with my life.

Re: OxyContin's 12-hour problem

#159

I haven't taken OxyContin but withdrawal symptoms and the concept of hell are interesting (well, afterwards at least). It's like the mind has a thought, then checks to see how the body reacts (i.e. with joy or fear) and this in turn affects how the thought is interpreted, which then influences what is the next thought, etc. The oxycontin or whatever temporarily cuts off this mind-body connection (without paralysis!)…

It's a little strange to be speaking about the anecdotal experience of OxyContin without having that experience. Is this how it was explained to you from a friend?

Re: OxyContin's 12-hour problem

#160
post #7

The pervasiveness of OC provided by doctors is amazing. Even as of a year ago, I went into the hospital for back pain and left with a script for two fist fulls of oxy. I looked at the doctor and legitimately thought he was trying to get me hooked. And this was at a world renowned hospital. I have to wonder if Purdue is involved in some kickbacks to Dr's who (over)prescribe.

I fractured my tibia recently and the urgent care gave me a short prescription for Percocet (which contains oxycodone like Oxycontin and also acetaminophen). I didn't end up picking it up as I don't have a car and mobility is understandably limited when you've fractured your tibia, but the past the first day the pain wasn't bad enough to need it anyway, and ibuprofen sufficed. And I am a wimpy person who does not do…

Do you have any support for your claim that "[t]he potential for addiction has nearly unlimited risk."? Given that the majority of the population has been prescribed an opioid at some point (wisdom teeth removal, broken bone, etc.) and yet hasn't developed an "addiction", it seems as though the opposite of your claim would be true.
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