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The lucrative business of America’s opioid crisis

nytimes.com

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Re: The lucrative business of America’s opioid crisis

#41

Post by JustAnotherPat »

sidcool wrote: post #7

I cannot understand why the Government is not acting against the pharmas profiting from this crisis. And why people are not revolting. There is a clear nexus between pharmas and doctors. Something should be done.

Why would people revolt? I had a surgery last year and in pre-op room as anesthesiologists questioned patients about what they were taking, I heard two guys explain why they were on fentanyl patches. They defended their use of them.

So many older men are on opioids for chronic pain. They're not going to revolt when their alternative is no solution to their problems.

When they become heavily addicted and it's too late, an American sentiment of personal responsibility kicks in.

Re: The lucrative business of America’s opioid crisis

#42

Post by trophycase »

DaiPlusPlus wrote: post #33
ElatedOwl wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I only started using cannabis because I got accustomed to the highs from coffee /s

Slightly off topic, but I do sometimes experience a pleasant and relaxing, but short-lived (5-15 minute) “high” from caffeine comparable to a mild Adderrall high without the motivation drive. People I’ve spoken to about this have generally been dismissive of it as placebo or saying it is atypical - am I alone in experiencing this?

Caffeine is a stimulant. I personally feel motivational effects for hours from a single cup.

Re: The lucrative business of America’s opioid crisis

#43

Post by trophycase »

sidcool wrote: post #7

I cannot understand why the Government is not acting against the pharmas profiting from this crisis. And why people are not revolting. There is a clear nexus between pharmas and doctors. Something should be done.

Our culture intentionally pacifies and rounds off edges. Of course nobody is revolting.

Re: The lucrative business of America’s opioid crisis

#45

Post by btian »

1undo wrote: post #23
pmc1 wrote: post #11

> Millions of people have fallen victim to drugs, painkiller abuse, alcoholism, the rise of meth and the revival of heroin. Through all this carnage somehow the left still fights for the legalization of the gateway drug marijuana. Of course not all weed users move towards harder drugs, but it opens the door to more lethal drugs once susceptible individuals become accustomed to the highs. I have personally seen friend…

That's true, but HN tends to be more liberal so you will be downvoted though.

Where's the evidence?

Oh, you don't have any.

Re: The lucrative business of America’s opioid crisis

#46

Post by kevin_b_er »

jijji wrote: post #9

Heroin is a Schedule I (in the US) which means no medical benefit, and its a 20 year felony for distributing it. There is also the Federal Analogue Act, 21 U.S.C. § 813, which is supposed to group similar drugs in the same category. So, how do these companies get away with selling analogs of heroin? Shouldn't the people who work there and make money off these opioid drugs be arrested? Why haven't they?

All forms of cannabis (marijuana) are also Schedule I in the US of "no medical benefit". The Schedule I is also a political tool.

Re: The lucrative business of America’s opioid crisis

#47

Post by leakybit »

sidcool wrote: post #7

I cannot understand why the Government is not acting against the pharmas profiting from this crisis. And why people are not revolting. There is a clear nexus between pharmas and doctors. Something should be done.

There are more people who are dealing with chronic pain who need opioid than people who are using them for "recreational" purposes.

Re: The lucrative business of America’s opioid crisis

#48

Post by flowersoldier »

wu-ikkyu wrote: post #36
sidcool wrote: post #7

I cannot understand why the Government is not acting against the pharmas profiting from this crisis. And why people are not revolting. There is a clear nexus between pharmas and doctors. Something should be done.

>I cannot understand why the Government is not acting against the pharmas profiting from this crisis. $$$ > And why people are not revolting. Drugs are an effective and subtle form of chemical warfare. They keep the people docile and apathetic.

Indeed. I work at a local clinic and see the fallout of the opioid crisis on a daily basis. I'm always surprised how the Opium Wars seldom comes up in these discussions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Opium_War

Opioids are quite effective at coaxing a population into complacency. Unless the government intervenes, I don't see the problem slowing down anytime soon. As someone else pointed out, the lobbyists are very influential...

Re: The lucrative business of America’s opioid crisis

#49

Post by rwmj »

TylerE wrote: post #29
Alex3917 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean there obviously is a medical benefit to heroin, it's all just arbitrary politics based mostly on graft.

And it is used medically in many countries for things like end-stage cancer pain.

In the UK it's given to some women during childbirth (although it's coyly known as "diamorphine"). https://www.babycentre.co.uk/a1026346/diamorphine

Re: The lucrative business of America’s opioid crisis

#50

Post by nemothekid »

pmc1 wrote: post #11

> Millions of people have fallen victim to drugs, painkiller abuse, alcoholism, the rise of meth and the revival of heroin. Through all this carnage somehow the left still fights for the legalization of the gateway drug marijuana. Of course not all weed users move towards harder drugs, but it opens the door to more lethal drugs once susceptible individuals become accustomed to the highs. I have personally seen friend…

Even if I were to accept marijuana is a gateway drug anymore than alcohol or your doctor, the war on drugs has cost the US an estimated 51 billion dollars a year. Prohibition is not effective and given how dubious the “gateway” claims are I would not consider that a strong basis for continuing to waste trillions in tax payer dollars.
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