Veterinarians get roped in on the issue because they have access to a wide range of meds that can and do get diverted and misused. On the larger issue, several pharma companies in the US stoked opioid sales through cooked up studies, medical journal articles, and presentations to doctors that downplayed the risks of addiction. Doctors were misled into thinking that newer types of opioids could be safely prescribed to more patients — and the result was a surge of new addicts who were first hooked by their doctors. A full on legislative attack on the problem would include investigation of that misconduct by pharma companies so as to lead to civil suits and potential criminal prosecution of those responsible.
And the society will shortly tie all its resources up in vain policing. Animals and people will both suffer and abusers will still find ways to abuse.
“Veterinarians get roped in on the issue because they have access to a wide range of meds that can and do get diverted and misused.”
This is the issue we are facing and fighting right now. Of course I am completely aware that there are bad apples in any group, but by and large DVM’s don’t keep, use, or dispense the opioids that are at issue in human abuse. If a Vet ordered most any of the human opioids, I would expect a big red flag to go up at DEA. Having “access” and actually dispensing those drugs are two completely different things.