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The Family Making Billions from the Opioid Crisis

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Re: The Family Making Billions from the Opioid Crisis

#231
post #226
post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The doctor explaining the risks isn't working, because of the ad. The DTC ads aren't completely useless, but they are harmful. A patient is unable to understand that the drug is putting them at risk. 60% of people can't see their side-effects as side-effects. So dangerous side-effects like angina and depression take longer to diagnose, leaving the patient at-risk. A patient is showing a placebo effect, so the doctor…

The doctor explaining the risks isn't working, because of the ad. Not sure I understand. The survey was asking doctors if they think patients understand the risks from seeing the ad. Doctors think they do. But patients then need to go and talk to the doctor, who should then clarify the risks since they are the medical professional, not the patient. If the patient then decides the risks are worth it, and the doctor th…

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Re: The Family Making Billions from the Opioid Crisis

#232

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Deliberate deception is not protected speech. These people deliberately lied and created the most lethal epidemic of drug abuse in our country’s history. Don’t defend their right to do it. You cheapen the notion of free speech when you do.

Fraud is not protected speech. If these people committed fraud they should be prosecuted. But outside that, stop interfering in my right to hear what they have to say.

> stop interfering in my right to hear what they have to say.

You still have every right to go to them and ask what they have to say.

Re: The Family Making Billions from the Opioid Crisis

#233

In my experience with local philanthropy, there are donors who have no interest in "naming opportunities" and those for whom it is all about the name. To me it says a lot about the character of the donor if they specifically want as little fuss as possible about the donation, and especially if they do not want something named after them. It is the cause they support, not their own egos. Personally, the more often I s…

Steven Spielberg rarely gives his name to donations and philanthropy because, as he said in an interview years ago why he lent his name to the Shoah foundation, to the Jews god does not recognize a good deed unless it is anonymous. Meaning it has to be done with humility and doing it for name sake is a matter of pride so it goes unnoticed by god.

I believe this is true for most religions. It should also be part of "common decency", for lack of a better word.

Re: The Family Making Billions from the Opioid Crisis

#234

In America, we worship people that create great fortunes. We idolize them and consider them geniuses. The source of their wealth is not important, even if it is obviously illegal or immoral. The only consideration is whether they built a successful business and managed to retain most of their money. This is the dark side of capitalism and the profit motive.

This is why the US is so ahead in entrepreneurship. It also can be seen in individuals: Bill Gates was claimed to be ruthless at early times, but now he's known for his philanthropy.

Re: The Family Making Billions from the Opioid Crisis

#235

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Money can travel - your reputation, not so much. China has a solution, a social score that travels with you everywhere. Dystopian, but it could cure that worship of money thing.

Except that score is calculated on factors such as your loyalty to the government.

Every society has a fitness function. Why not make the code public? In China one is loyal to "the party", in the US one has to be loyal to "the parties". I don't see a large distinction.

Re: The Family Making Billions from the Opioid Crisis

#236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Do you really think doctors alone should decide your treatment? Yes. Not necessarily one doctor, or even two doctors. Get a second opinion, or just switch your doctor if you don't like them. The alternative of letting profiteers peddling medicine influence a poorly educated populace is most unfortunate.

Just because some might not use freedom wisely doesn’t mean it should be denied to anyone.

> use freedom wisely

How many would claim that getting a 200M drug ad campaign qualifies? Hell, I watch a drug ad and it is all life style and vibe. Shots off my golf score! Luxury Yachts! Happy, Well Adjusted Grand Kids!

Re: The Family Making Billions from the Opioid Crisis

#237

I was on Oxy for about a month after smashing one of my vertibraes into pieces in a climbing accident, I was prescribed more than three times as much. I walked through hell to get out of that crap; nothing else I've encountered even comes close, including heroine and cocaine. There are several natural, less addictive and less harmful methods for treating chronic pain; cannabis, mushrooms and meditation among others.…

In Arizona big pharma was the biggest contributor to the campaign to defeat marijuana legalization.

Links, sources, please.

Re: The Family Making Billions from the Opioid Crisis

#238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it was the case that these people somehow rigged the testing to make it seem less harmful (which isn't that far fetched), then that would be the scandal. But it isn't. This is known, even in the US. This thing is known to be this addictive. That's basically only prescribed in exceptional cases elsewhere in the world. Basically it's not prescribed to otherwise healthy people who only suffer from pain (back pains, s…

So what does that say about the medical practitioners on the front lines prescribing this shit at these insane levels? Hippocratic oath means nothing? Kickbacks from the pharma companies too sweet to ignore?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15522455

Re: The Family Making Billions from the Opioid Crisis

#239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reminds me of the quote by George Steinbrenner[1]. "If you do something nice for somebody, and more than just the two of you know about it, maybe you're doing it for the wrong reason" [1] https://tree.mindbloom.com/apps/inspiration/detail/quote/563...

This quote really irritates me; if we don't allow people to be judged by the good they do, more people die, because fewer people give. It's as simple as that. People shouldn't just feel free to talk about how they are contributing to saving lives, they should be encouraged. Introducing a social stigma that one isn't allowed to be publically happy or proud of doing good is cruel and counterproductive. I have personal…

Many people are recognized for doing good without needing to tell people they're doing good. If you feel you're doing good and not being recognized for it then maybe the kind of good you're doing isn't really necessary.

It's called being humble.

Re: The Family Making Billions from the Opioid Crisis

#240

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This quote really irritates me; if we don't allow people to be judged by the good they do, more people die, because fewer people give. It's as simple as that. People shouldn't just feel free to talk about how they are contributing to saving lives, they should be encouraged. Introducing a social stigma that one isn't allowed to be publically happy or proud of doing good is cruel and counterproductive. I have personal…

Many people are recognized for doing good without needing to tell people they're doing good. If you feel you're doing good and not being recognized for it then maybe the kind of good you're doing isn't really necessary. It's called being humble.

I'm sure all those people who didn't die of malaria but otherwise would have disagree on whether said intervention was necessary. If the virtues of being "humble" mean another billion people die of easily preventable diseases, fuck being humble.
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