"I learned, myself -- I had a brother, Fred -- great guy, best-looking guy, best personality -- much better than mine. (Laughter.) But he had a problem. He had a problem with alcohol, and he would tell me, "Don’t drink. Don't drink." He was substantially older, and I listened to him and I respected, but he would constantly tell me, don't drink. He'd also add, don't smoke. But he would say it over and over and over again. [...]
"But he really helped me. I had somebody that guided me, and he had a very, very, very tough life because of alcohol -- believe me, very, very tough, tough life. He was a strong guy, but it was a tough, tough thing that he was going through."
I heard on a news report that the majority of this drug goes to Medicare patients.
But, but, but Obama’s prescription was just ‘maybe you should just take a pain pill’. I know, I know.......this is ALL Obama’s fault! (I really do think this is the fault of Obamacare though)
The number of lives affected by these issues is staggering and cuts across all the cultural/class boundaries. I want to say over 80 million people so more than 25% of the nation.
He has been in front of this issue since he started talking about it in New Hampshire.
Way to go president Trump - addiction is a very tough problem to deal with thanks for your focus on it. The last guy who had the job just wanted to give grandma a pill - now we know what kind.
I miss the good old days when the choices were prison or death, like with the Crack Epidemic.
As with any other government program....we are the government and are here to help.....IMO, the people who will be hurt the worst, will be those who need pain meds to get by daily. As usual, the abusers make it hard on those who do not abuse. The drug addicts WILL find other ways to get what they want.....and the truly pain ridden will either suffer or turn to underground drugs. Vicious circle
bkmk
Unfortunately this is not true, just as prohibition did not solve the problems with alcohol at that time. In addition many will not work together to solve this problem. There are legitimate reasons to have this drug legally available. Banning does nothing to even address the illegal manufacture just as prohibition did not stop the illegal manufacturing of alcohol.
At first, looking through my emotional rose colored glasses, I applauded this action. But it is not the cure to the problem. In addition it denies those who have serious pain issues from cancer as well as other causes to legally obtain the relief from pain that it provides.
It is no different than the liberal reaction to ban guns as the solution to gun violence, at every opportunity it arises. People who use guns as intended and not to commit wanton murder and other crimes, are denied the right to protect themselves, and to augment their food supply that may be crucial to them feeding their family. Outlawing guns does not rid the nation of guns. All it really does is create a thriving black market for those who could care less about guns being illegal to possess, and those willing to take the risks for financial gain to procure and supply them.
And IMO Nancy Reagan had it right back in the day when she, like Fred Trump, simply advocated “Just say no!”
I would bet the ratio of crack addicts to inadvertent addiction to pain killers is 10,000 to 1. There is no epidemic of addiction to oxy. He is combining that small number with recreational druggies and alcohol abusers. This is hyperbole so as not to look racist where the real problem exists within the inner cities and the local politicians who look away in Detroit, Chicago, Philly, St. Louis, Frisco, LA, etc., and their failed socialist policies - not to mention our failing education system.
Mr. President, you don't like to drink alcohol, fine. Just keep your Fedgov hands off my Captain Morgan. If I want to drink myself to sleep every night (which I don't) with a legal substance, it's not yours or anyone's business as long as I don't break laws or step on others' rights. What drugs I use within the confines of my own home is not your business.
Mr. President you are wasting time on this matter when you could be directing Sleepy Sessions to prosecute those who step on our rights every day with their Deep State good ole boy corruption.
God is the answer. Programs for recovery from addiction run by Christians, with Christian values and message, have an amazing success record. I wonder why we never hear about this?