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 Hugs to You
Posts: 7551
   
Location: In The Land of Cotton | luluwhit - 2018-03-08 3:46 PM Bear - 2018-03-07 9:34 AM There are many reasons for the opioid epidemic, and plenty of blame to go around. First, we’ve been losing the “War on drugs” since it’s inception back nearly 40 years ago. Second, like so many other things, the decline of the family unit plays a big role. Third, we are losing the battle against criminal trafficking, including the battle against the drug cartels, illegal immigration, and so forth. Fourth, and maybe most importantly, I blame my own profession. We cave to pressures to prescribe narcotics on demand. If we resist, we are castigated, both by many of our peers, as well as many in the lay public. Drug-seeking people are very clever and resourceful. They know all the tricks. We have turned a blind eye to the role of pharmaceutical companies in this mess. In a strange way, I think states like Colorado, Oregon, and California will provide us with a ton of real data on the impact of marijuana legalization. I’m not saying it’s a good thing. I’m saying we ought to be able to determine the impact of marijuana, academically, psychologically, financially, road fatality, job performance, as a bridge to opiate use and addiction, and so forth. I expect long term data will provide us with a lot of useful information. Bear another poster brings up the Narcan situation. With our area every police officer and emt is packing narcan and anyone can pick it up at the pharmacy for free. How is it this drug is being handed out at no cost vs the outragous cost of life saving drugs such as epi pens and insulin? Im very curious what your view is on this.
The same situation I hate where they have herion stations in some cities. They give it to them free.
Why not cancer drugs for free instead of that crap?
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25351
Location: Bastrop, Texas | I’m not sure about the free narcan. It’s indicated in cases where someone is in a comatose or near comatose state, particularly if there’s respiratory depression. If it is opioid induced, narcan can quickly reverse it. There are potential risks as well, such as precipitating acute full blown withdrawal syndrome. | |
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Veteran
Posts: 141
| Decriminalize drugs.
Throwing people in jail over a drug violation is just crazy. This is one of the main reasons for single parent families and grandparents raising their grand kids. Plus it gives an excuse for govt officials to trample individual rights and the constitution.
If we cant keep drugs out of the prison system how can we keep it off the streets? | |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25351
Location: Bastrop, Texas | joemama - 2018-03-08 5:08 PM
Decriminalize drugs.
Throwing people in jail over a drug violation is just crazy. This is one of the main reasons for single parent families and grandparents raising their grand kids. Plus it gives an excuse for govt officials to trample individual rights and the constitution.
If we cant keep drugs out of the prison system how can we keep it off the streets?
Which drugs?
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 Expert
Posts: 1304
| I forgot to check BHW! Been super busy. I'm glad this is being talked about. Unfortunately it is kind of God's way of natural selection and people from all walks of life fall into the grips of addiction. But I do have to say s**tty environments don't help anything and I feel sorry for these children that grow up in this never ending cycle. It's a whole mentality issue that's plaguing certain areas, especially in WV. Hoplessness from unemployment, no education, poverty, etc just causes this sick cycle of dependence on drugs, alcohol, and welfare. Why work a minimum wage job and BARELY pay your bills when welfare will pay them? I definitely think people have to own up to some extent but my fear is the mentality that gets them into this in the first place, and how it's taking over places like WV. I know some aren't for marijuana legalization but maybe it would help those come off of drugs, and give certain people something to have instead of hard drugs. Maybe it'd create agri-tourism and a booming agriculture industry in the state, medicinal uses for veterans, and be cohesive with the natural geographical tourist points in WV and renew the term "Wild and Wonderful" (good point my sister made). Anyway. I went on a rant. But a mentaility change needs to happen..I pray God can do something or maybe this is his plan? | |
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| When opioids were first prescribed for pain management, they were being advertised as “non-addictive”, and now the pharmaceutical companies are finally realizing what a terrible thing they’ve done, but as has already been stated, it’s all about money for them. In my opinion, a lot of the initial blame should be placed on them, but when people aren’t smart or strong enough to keep themselves from getting hooked, then it really makes you wonder who is at fault. In Seattle, and I think San Fran and maybe a couple other cities, they now have “safe injection spaces” where you bring your drugs, they test them and make sure they’re not laced with anything “that can kill you” (like the heroin can’t???), and give you a clean needle to shoot up with, plus they have narcan on site in case you OD. I am so frustrated with this enabling, it does nothing to decrease the drug epidemic in our country.
I work in LE and part of our county includes a reservation, and I can tell you that the increase in violent crimes in recent years has been due, in a large part, to drugs. Marijuana is legal in Washington, but we still have people buying and selling it on a black market. Plus we can always tell when new shipments of meth arrive, people lose their minds. It’s an awful tragedy.
Edited by madredepeanut 2018-03-08 8:07 PM
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | madredepeanut - 2018-03-08 8:06 PM
When opioids were first prescribed for pain management, they were being advertised as “non-addictive”, and now the pharmaceutical companies are finally realizing what a terrible thing they’ve done, but as has already been stated, it’s all about money for them. In my opinion, a lot of the initial blame should be placed on them, but when people aren’t smart or strong enough to keep themselves from getting hooked, then it really makes you wonder who is at fault. In Seattle, and I think San Fran and maybe a couple other cities, they now have “safe injection spaces” where you bring your drugs, they test them and make sure they’re not laced with anything “that can kill you” (like the heroin can’t???), and give you a clean needle to shoot up with, plus they have narcan on site in case you OD. I am so frustrated with this enabling, it does nothing to decrease the drug epidemic in our country.
I work in LE and part of our county includes a reservation, and I can tell you that the increase in violent crimes in recent years has been due, in a large part, to drugs. Marijuana is legal in Washington, but we still have people buying and selling it on a black market. Plus we can always tell when new shipments of meth arrive, people lose their minds. It’s an awful tragedy.
I have never in all my born days heard of such--letting someone shoot up right there like they're dropping in for coffee??? Help me Lord, what have we become??? | |
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| Chandler's Mom - 2018-03-09 8:07 PM
madredepeanut - 2018-03-08 8:06 PM
When opioids were first prescribed for pain management, they were being advertised as “non-addictive”, and now the pharmaceutical companies are finally realizing what a terrible thing they’ve done, but as has already been stated, it’s all about money for them. In my opinion, a lot of the initial blame should be placed on them, but when people aren’t smart or strong enough to keep themselves from getting hooked, then it really makes you wonder who is at fault. In Seattle, and I think San Fran and maybe a couple other cities, they now have “safe injection spaces” where you bring your drugs, they test them and make sure they’re not laced with anything “that can kill you” (like the heroin can’t???), and give you a clean needle to shoot up with, plus they have narcan on site in case you OD. I am so frustrated with this enabling, it does nothing to decrease the drug epidemic in our country.
I work in LE and part of our county includes a reservation, and I can tell you that the increase in violent crimes in recent years has been due, in a large part, to drugs. Marijuana is legal in Washington, but we still have people buying and selling it on a black market. Plus we can always tell when new shipments of meth arrive, people lose their minds. It’s an awful tragedy.
I have never in all my born days heard of such--letting someone shoot up right there like they're dropping in for coffee??? Help me Lord, what have we become???
https://baartprograms.com/heroin-addiction-safe-injection-sites/
 It makes my blood boil just thinking about it. | |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | madredepeanut - 2018-03-09 10:18 PM
Chandler's Mom - 2018-03-09 8:07 PM
madredepeanut - 2018-03-08 8:06 PM
When opioids were first prescribed for pain management, they were being advertised as “non-addictive”, and now the pharmaceutical companies are finally realizing what a terrible thing they’ve done, but as has already been stated, it’s all about money for them. In my opinion, a lot of the initial blame should be placed on them, but when people aren’t smart or strong enough to keep themselves from getting hooked, then it really makes you wonder who is at fault. In Seattle, and I think San Fran and maybe a couple other cities, they now have “safe injection spaces” where you bring your drugs, they test them and make sure they’re not laced with anything “that can kill you” (like the heroin can’t???), and give you a clean needle to shoot up with, plus they have narcan on site in case you OD. I am so frustrated with this enabling, it does nothing to decrease the drug epidemic in our country.
I work in LE and part of our county includes a reservation, and I can tell you that the increase in violent crimes in recent years has been due, in a large part, to drugs. Marijuana is legal in Washington, but we still have people buying and selling it on a black market. Plus we can always tell when new shipments of meth arrive, people lose their minds. It’s an awful tragedy.
I have never in all my born days heard of such--letting someone shoot up right there like they're dropping in for coffee??? Help me Lord, what have we become??? It makes my blood boil just thinking about it.
You have opened my eyes---I feel very naive right now. . . . | |
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