Pointers from Portugal on Addiction and the Drug War
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Re: Pointers from Portugal on Addiction and the Drug War
#2This is the key from my perspective:
"Moreover, as of 2008, three-quarters of those with opioid use disorder were receiving medication-assisted treatment. Though that’s considered the best approach, less than half of Americans who could benefit from medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction receive it."
Buprenorphine has saved my life and I wish everyone could have access to it and that it would be provided for free. Pay for it from grabbing back cash from the Sackler's.
I'm surprised in the article the phrase 'less than half' which sounds like it's on the higher end towards 50.
I would have guessed much lower. I can't find a great source but this has some numbers [1]. Says only 36% of rehabs have access to at least one replacement therapy.
And that's people who can access rehab...
To be able to prescribe Suboxone - from what my Dr. has told me - MDs have to have a specific DEA certificate. And they limit the number of patients one single Dr. can treat at a few hundred.
In my state there aren't many prescribers - not nearly enough for the number of addicts. And I live in a liberal state.
It's easier for Drs to dole out opiates than prescribe buprenorphine.
We can also learn from Portugal in more community and healthcare intervention.
The big problem here to get there is that DAs, sheriffs, mayors are elected and there are 50 states. We will need to shift public opinion everywhere to make meaningful progress outside of big cities. Plus with Barr's Justice Department catholic radicalization who knows what happens if they get another 4 years.
It's gross that in America those who are poor, BIPOC, are far more likely to have their lives ruined by unequal drug prosecutions.
If we ever start treating addiction not prosecuting it, I hope we'll do better than marijuana and clear old records/convictions for small drug possession.
https://nam.edu/improving-access-to-evidence-based-medical-t...
Re: Pointers from Portugal on Addiction and the Drug War
#3This is the key from my perspective: "Moreover, as of 2008, three-quarters of those with opioid use disorder were receiving medication-assisted treatment. Though that’s considered the best approach, less than half of Americans who could benefit from medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction receive it." Buprenorphine has saved my life and I wish everyone could have access to it and that it would be provided…
Why are opiate treatment drugs so highly controlled? Do they have a high risk for recreational abuse, or extreme side effects, or is something else wrong?
Re: Pointers from Portugal on Addiction and the Drug War
#4This is the key from my perspective: "Moreover, as of 2008, three-quarters of those with opioid use disorder were receiving medication-assisted treatment. Though that’s considered the best approach, less than half of Americans who could benefit from medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction receive it." Buprenorphine has saved my life and I wish everyone could have access to it and that it would be provided…
Why are opiate treatment drugs so highly controlled? Do they have a high risk for recreational abuse, or extreme side effects, or is something else wrong?
They give you a good buzz, especially if you are a relatively opiate naive person. If you happen to have an addict friend that wants to sell their methadone or suboxen to buy real stuff, then it ends up being a lose lose for people trying to stop overall use
Re: Pointers from Portugal on Addiction and the Drug War
#5Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why are opiate treatment drugs so highly controlled? Do they have a high risk for recreational abuse, or extreme side effects, or is something else wrong?
They give you a good buzz, especially if you are a relatively opiate naive person. If you happen to have an addict friend that wants to sell their methadone or suboxen to buy real stuff, then it ends up being a lose lose for people trying to stop overall use
Bupe + naloxone doesn't give any buzz and it blocks you from getting high from other opiates. i guess maybe if you were opiate naive maybe it would IDK. but that would be really dumb to take if you want to get high take the real shit
Definitely can from methadone especially mixed with a benzo
for sure people sell it but they're going to use with or without it.
studies have shown that those who don't get long time sober and do replacement therapy on and off nonetheless have longer periods of abstinence and lower death time frames (not sure how to phrase that they dont die as much/soon)
Re: Pointers from Portugal on Addiction and the Drug War
#6This is the key from my perspective: "Moreover, as of 2008, three-quarters of those with opioid use disorder were receiving medication-assisted treatment. Though that’s considered the best approach, less than half of Americans who could benefit from medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction receive it." Buprenorphine has saved my life and I wish everyone could have access to it and that it would be provided…
Why are opiate treatment drugs so highly controlled? Do they have a high risk for recreational abuse, or extreme side effects, or is something else wrong?
i believe it's 100% because of stigma and 'values preaching' and the history of methadone
buprenorphine + naloxone is nothing like methadone
suboxone has few to none of the externalities of methadone
just in general with drugs and treatment we would be so much better off if those who force their personal values upon others had some sympathy and compassion
Re: Pointers from Portugal on Addiction and the Drug War
#7This is the key from my perspective: "Moreover, as of 2008, three-quarters of those with opioid use disorder were receiving medication-assisted treatment. Though that’s considered the best approach, less than half of Americans who could benefit from medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction receive it." Buprenorphine has saved my life and I wish everyone could have access to it and that it would be provided…
The current system in the US is a virtuous cycle - companies like Purdue make tens of billions creating a huge population of addicts, and then the resulting crime justifies the expansion of heavily militarized police to wage war "on drugs", which then can funnel the losers of the battle into a for-profit prison system. Imagine the profit potential of a nation of 150 million junkies. Actually solving the problem costs money.
Re: Pointers from Portugal on Addiction and the Drug War
#8British Columbia’s medical health officer recently gave nurses the ability to prescribe opioid replacement drugs to improve the supply. Many more people are dying from toxic street drugs than are dying from COVID-19. It’s a “shadow pandemic” that has been raging for decades and is only getting worse as border closures make it harder for gangs to move drugs like heroin and fentanyl across borders, leading to shortages of “safe” ingredients and a shift toward exotic, extremely toxic alternatives like carfentanyl.
Re: Pointers from Portugal on Addiction and the Drug War
#9British Columbia’s medical health officer recently gave nurses the ability to prescribe opioid replacement drugs to improve the supply. Many more people are dying from toxic street drugs than are dying from COVID-19. It’s a “shadow pandemic” that has been raging for decades and is only getting worse as border closures make it harder for gangs to move drugs like heroin and fentanyl across borders, leading to shortages…
do you think some pay back from China for the opium wars is part of the dynamic?
Re: Pointers from Portugal on Addiction and the Drug War
#10The only country to truly “win” the war on drugs.