Oxycontin is not a new drug. For with people with terminal chronic debilitating pain is is a wonderful drug. These individuals will in all likelyhood become addicted but that is of little importance as they are terminal and in great pain. Oxycodon has been used for years for extreme pain control. It is a good drug with a high potential for abuse.
The problem with the drug is its over prescription. It should never be used except for extreme pain. It can and should be used for those with short term extreme pain. If the pain is long term and chronic the risk benefit of pain control verses addiction should be weighed carefully.
The problem is not the drug, the problem is the indiscriminate use of the drug. It should also be noted that people that “DO NOT” have a predilection to addiction will get off the drug once their pain is controlled and gone. My father (chopper pilot) broke his back in a chopper accident. He was in great pain and used high dose codeine for this. He was addicted. Once the pain was no longer severe he voluntarily reduced his dosage until he no longer took it. He did not have a predilection to addiction.
As a pharmacist I once worked with home health care terminal care, pain control and hyperalimentation. My patients were mostly terminal cancer victims. We kept them pain free at home where they wanted to be with their families until death. Most were addicted to the morphine. This was okay, they were dying and our work allowed them to die at home with dignity and love from their family. Oddly it was very satisfying work. The appreciation shown by the families to me was unbelievable.
I work in Health Care as well, and know exactly what you mean in your entire post.
When people have those awful, intractable, terminal conditions, they should have all the pain medication they desire regardless of addiction.
I just get angry with the characterization of opiod overdoses or addictions as being the fault of someone else, and the user is an innocent victim.
No. In the majority of cases, they voluntarily acquire and take these medications for recreation and then suffer the consequences as a result.
So people who really NEED them have to jump through more elaborate hoops, drive longer distances because some pharmacies won’t stock them, and that makes me madder than hell.
I feel sympathy for people who get ensnared and die of over doses, and think they should have access to help, but the abdication of any personal responsibility in this makes me quite irritable.
Thanks for your post.