Posted on 08/14/2011 4:37:30 PM PDT by DBCJR
We are facing a tsunami of painkiller addiction that will flood our criminal justice, health care, behavioral health, and social services resources. Illicit online pharmacies have made prescriptions cheap and easy to acquire, fueling a massive wave of addi...ction that we actually have not seen yet. SAMHSA estimates that over 5% of the nations population, 12 years and older, are using painkillers, nowhere more prevalent than the heartland with Oklahoma leading the nation at 6.7%.
Opioid addiction used to be thought of as primarily heroin addiction, but that is changing rapidly. The masses currently addicted to prescription painkillers have conveniently been able to manage their addiction and manage other aspects of their lives like job and family. However, the Senate passed the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Act and the DEA is closing down those cheap and easy suppliers of prescription drugs.
When that happens this mass of addiction will suddenly become sick and desperate, and a foreseeable progression of consequences will follow. That means increased criminal activity, loss of jobs, which leads to loss of housing, which leads to the break-up of families and increased utilization of social services. 5.5% to 6.7% of the population 12 years and older may be headed toward this foreseeable progression of consequences.
Traditional approaches to substance abuse treatment have proven ineffective in treating opioid addiction, with high relapse rates. These approaches start with inpatient detox. In Oklahoma, according to ODMHSAS, there is a waiting list of 1,000-1,300 for residential substance abuse treatment. Detox and residential treatment are huge bottlenecks to an ineffective approach. Is there anything to stop this tidal wave of destruction?
SAMHSA has identified the evidence-based best practice, Medication Assisted Treatment, Treatment Improvement Protocol 43, as having the best outcomes for opioid addicts. Even better, in most cases, active opioid abusers can be taken directly into outpatient treatment, skipping inpatient detox and preserving jobs, housing, and families. While new generation drugs have been developed, they are very expensive and are not covered by Medicaid and Medicare, and many private health plans.
... so the harm is what, exactly? Besides being a jobs program for DEA agents, police officers, judges, and prison guards, that is.
HAMM:
Is it not time for my pain-killer?
CLOV:
Yes.
HAMM:
Ah! At last! Give it to me! Quick!
(Pause.)
CLOV:
There’s no more pain-killer.
(Pause.)
HAMM (appalled):
Good...!
(Pause.)
No more pain-killer!
CLOV:
No more pain-killer. You’ll never get any more pain-killer.
(Pause.)
HAMM:
But the little round box. It was full!
CLOV:
Yes. But now it’s empty.
For War on Some Drugs zealots, failure of the War on Some Drugs means we haven't passed enough laws yet.
Possibly some but nevertheless addicted. Painkillers over time create a hyper-sensitivity to perceived pain. They are not the long term pain management solution.
Not sure how that relates to this subject. Please explain.
The progressive dysfunction of 6.8% of Oklahomans ot over 5% of Americans, greater utilization of social and criminal justice resources, etc. Read the article or go to the site and check out the other resources.
Not all Junkies jam a needle in their arm.
I agree with you. If people are in pain that affects their daily life, they should be able to get pain medication without fear of some federal or state agency coming down on them. I too, don’t have an addiction problem, I have a pain problem. Both my legs are in pain most of the time. I try to only use pain medicine at night so that I can at least get a little relief to sleep. It really sucks that you are made to feel like a criminal.
Very true.
I have chronic back pain. Fell on some ice 32 years and 6 months ago. Compression fractured three verts. In bed for eight months. It’s been quite bad lately, but I don’t take anything for it. Just suffer. I have known three people in their Seventies, that have become addicted to Oxycontin, and have no desire to join them. But,,,,, it hurts,,, every day, 24 hours a day.
K. What is?
I ask as someone that fell off a mountain during a blizzard, lost a kidney and a spleen and fractured verts, and doesn't do pain meds except for OTC aspirin.
It hurts. All of the time. Night and day.
If you have a solution, share it. Because I HATE the fuzzy brain that opiates cause.
/johnny
Broad brush you paint with, Chocheece.
/johnny
This biggest problem it causes in accidental death by drug overdose. Espically in the young users.
Suck it up, and move forward.
Never mind their whining asses would cry like little girls.
They will change their tune on pain-killers. When the pain gets bad enough.
But I'm with you. I don't want the fuzzies or the addiction. I just want relief that doesn't come from a gun barrel.
/johnny
I'll bet he has some pains that aspirin won't fix, also.
Get off your hobby horse.
/johnny
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