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Problem is, there is a MILE WIDE difference between you and the type of patients who seek drugs everyday at our hospitals. As a new RN, as i was shocked — many of them literally just focus their lives on getting admitted and getting a hit of dilaudid or whatever the drug is they seek. It’s unreal.

I recognize this is a very real problem but then I liken this to the arguments for gun control. Are their people who use guns irresponsibly and or in the commission of crimes? Yes. But should we outlaw or severely restrict gun ownership just because a very few do this when the vast majority of gun owners are responsible and never commit any crimes? We should punish people who commit crimes, not the people who don’t.

It is IMO, the same with pain killers. Sure there are drug addicts but there are also people with chronic painful conditions and late stage cancer patients for instance who need pain killers to function, don’t abuse them, are not addicts and are made to needlessly suffer because of those people who illegally seek drugs; we are “criminalizing” pain meds and the people who do really need them and are not addicts and criminals. Punish the criminal, not outlaw or criminalize the drug.

I’m for this, as our nation’s true drug seekers need to find another way to keep themselves occupied. Once Obamacare hits, there will be no funds for their habits. OR, he’ll give them what they want and deny painkillers to those who truly need them ...esp old white guys who need them.

So you are for more government regulation in our lives? Do you really want to place more restrictions on doctors who are ethically and responsibly caring for their patients because of a few who don't? As far as Obama, I recall him saying something to the effect of “Granny needs an expensive hip replacement? Maybe it would be better for her to just take a pain pill”. Of course you are probably right in that no grannies will get hip replacements under Obamacare but only welfare grannies and Holder’s people will be able to get pain meds.

Points noted. However, another thing that complicates this, is the “rule” in healthcare (and it’s a relatively new rule, all having to do with the newer trends in “patient centered” care ....Pain is whatever the patient says it is ....so, if they are saying they’re in pain (and maybe 1/10 is really faking it), you HAVE to treat them.

Problem is, there is a MILE WIDE difference between you and the type of patients who seek drugs everyday at our hospitals. As a new RN, as i was shocked — many of them literally just focus their lives on getting admitted and getting a hit of dilaudid or whatever the drug is they seek. It’s unreal.

I recognize this is a very real problem but then I liken this to the arguments for gun control. Are their people who use guns irresponsibly and or in the commission of crimes? Yes. But should we outlaw or severely restrict gun ownership just because a very few do this when the vast majority of gun owners are responsible and never commit any crimes? We should punish people who commit crimes, not the people who don’t.

It is IMO, the same with pain killers.

Amen to all that!

Sure there are drug addicts

Why do we even want to treat them as criminals - where's the justification or benefit?