America’s opioid epidemic is worsening

Post by goatsi » Tue, Mar 07, 2017, 1:03 AM UTC

DanBC wrote: post #94

rwmj wrote: post #21

In the UK it appears that there's a Spice epidemic. It's often called "synthetic cannabis" or "(formerly) legal highs", but it in reality it's all kinds of research chemicals sprayed onto leaves to be smoked. It has some pretty hideous side effects, and seems very addictive ( https://video.vice.com/en_uk/video/the-hard-lives-of-britain... ) Oh, and the government just handed the whole market over to illegal drug deal…

The spice epidemic is mostly prison related though. Prisons should stop testing for cannabis; and should consider prescribing cannabis of known strengths (and higher CBD rather than THC content). (Also, they need to start providing a lot more mental health support and meaningful activity).

Post by GordonS » Tue, Mar 07, 2017, 1:07 AM UTC

cheald wrote: post #162

6stringmerc wrote: post #47

The first time I saw a TV commercial here in the US for a pill to battle opiod induced constipation, I realized just how many people are taking large doses of the stuff. Pretty staggering to me.

Yeah, those commercials are painful. If you're taking so many opioids that you have trouble pooping, maybe the solution is to take fewer opioids rather than adding another medication to the mix. Really damning commentary on how easily and flippantly we overmedicate.

Post by thearn4 » Tue, Mar 07, 2017, 1:08 AM UTC

devopsproject wrote: post #29

pnathan wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Seems like attacking the supply is great place to start. That is what was done, transferring the demand to heroin as opposed to oxy. Also, focusing on the supply side of things is the last 30 years of US policy: it's not worked effectively, and has a concomitant effect of incentivizing black market dealers to be wealthy and power. It'd be better to sell OTC heroin than to fund violent gangs, just in the name of lim…

Mostly wrong. Pills were given out like candy, then restricted which caused demand for cheaper alternatives. Had the drug companies been regulated in the first place, we might be OK. The pills aren't coming from mules or cartels, they are coming from US companies. The pill supply has to lowered. edit to add: http://www.latimes.com/projects/oxycontin-part1/

Post by 55555 » Tue, Mar 07, 2017, 1:10 AM UTC

ocschwar wrote: post #80

I'm going to comment here with a plug for the March For Science, on April 22. Why? Because the opioid epidemic started with a simple matter of scientists not being allowed to science. Purdue Pharmaceuticals marketed oxycontin as a drug that lasts for 12 hours. The evidence indicated it only lasted for 8. If Purdue's scientists were allowed to act on the evidence, i.e. to be actual scientists, the whole world would ha…

Post by AnimalMuppet » Tue, Mar 07, 2017, 1:33 AM UTC

SolaceQuantum wrote: post #158

AnimalMuppet wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm guessing, but... technology? There was a tremendous amount of unemployment during the Great Depression - far worse than now. Sure, opioids weren't as available, so people didn't turn to them. (Alcohol, on the other hand...) But I think a lot of what people did then was turn to each other. They had deeper relationships with people than (many) people do today. Sure, you've got two hundred Facebook friends. How many…

I don't know, I see young people taking to each other about suicidal thoughts and making support groups do each other all the time. Teenagers making Discord chats where they can talk about how their families are abusive and they want to kill themselves, Skype chats where young adults discuss obscure chronic illnesses that the rest of the world can't empathize with them for.