Aa
the million dollar question
Why is 95 percent of the post on here in the substance abuse forum about pain pills? what is going on? why? somehthing seems not right... just my 2 cents...
Something ISN'T right.
There are over 314,000,000 people living in the United States alone. Over 25% of those are under 20 and 12%, over 65.
As of 2011, almost 250,000,000 opiod based pain medication prescriptions were issued in the US. That's 2/3 of the population, including children/teens and mature persons. Now, obviously, this isn't a case of one person/one prescription. Plenty of people will get prescription renewals, which account for some of that 250 million. Still, the number of these prescriptions has doubled in the last decade and the number of prescriptions for the strongest opiod based pain killers has increased fourfold.
It's an industry that brings in over 4 billion dollars a year and it's being peddled by people we are taught to trust: doctors. We live in a culture that places doctors on a pedestal; they are an authority and are not to be questioned. We do what we're told and take what we're prescribed because we're led to believe they have our best interests at heart. And some do. But some don't.
Pain killers are rampantly abused because they reach demographics that street drugs have a harder time getting to. For example: I don't know any dealers. I haven't met one in probably 20 years and wouldn't even know where to begin looking. But I can make an appointment with any doctor and, if I'm on my game that day, walk out with a script.
Also, it's much easier for people to rationalize the use of pain killers. There are many, many valid situations where they can be and are applied. But they're so addictive, the usage often makes a wrong turn and goes from being a help to being a hindrance. What's the most addictive drug you can think of? Crystal meth? Heroin? Imagine prescribing either of those to a 12 year old who broke his arm. Kinda crazy, right? Yet doctors do it all the time with pain killers.
We are talking about millions and millions of people of all ages who would otherwise never have had exposure to addictive drugs. But one day, they walked into a doctor's office with pain and trust and then everything went to sh*t.
There are over 314,000,000 people living in the United States alone. Over 25% of those are under 20 and 12%, over 65.
As of 2011, almost 250,000,000 opiod based pain medication prescriptions were issued in the US. That's 2/3 of the population, including children/teens and mature persons. Now, obviously, this isn't a case of one person/one prescription. Plenty of people will get prescription renewals, which account for some of that 250 million. Still, the number of these prescriptions has doubled in the last decade and the number of prescriptions for the strongest opiod based pain killers has increased fourfold.
It's an industry that brings in over 4 billion dollars a year and it's being peddled by people we are taught to trust: doctors. We live in a culture that places doctors on a pedestal; they are an authority and are not to be questioned. We do what we're told and take what we're prescribed because we're led to believe they have our best interests at heart. And some do. But some don't.
Pain killers are rampantly abused because they reach demographics that street drugs have a harder time getting to. For example: I don't know any dealers. I haven't met one in probably 20 years and wouldn't even know where to begin looking. But I can make an appointment with any doctor and, if I'm on my game that day, walk out with a script.
Also, it's much easier for people to rationalize the use of pain killers. There are many, many valid situations where they can be and are applied. But they're so addictive, the usage often makes a wrong turn and goes from being a help to being a hindrance. What's the most addictive drug you can think of? Crystal meth? Heroin? Imagine prescribing either of those to a 12 year old who broke his arm. Kinda crazy, right? Yet doctors do it all the time with pain killers.
We are talking about millions and millions of people of all ages who would otherwise never have had exposure to addictive drugs. But one day, they walked into a doctor's office with pain and trust and then everything went to sh*t.
Compared to heroin and crack I feel more people are more inclined to try a pill that is manufactured than pick up a needle and shoot up. So I feel pills are the starting point. When they get out of hand one either decideds to quit or moves on to the next drug.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
