Robert Gebelhoff: Complicity a big factor in America’s opioid crisis

Denton Record Chronical ^ | 12/22/2017 | Robert Gebelhoff

[mabarker1]

For years, the opioid crisis was described as one of negligence. In this narrative, doctors overprescribed pills that shouldn't have gone to patients and pharmaceutical companies overzealously promoted medications while playing down the risks.

Robert Gebelhoff

But new reporting demonstrates how this version, as worrying as it sounds, might understate the role of drugmakers in the opioid crisis.

The Washington Post and 60 Minutes reported that some of the Drug Enforcement Administration's most experienced investigators believed criminal charges were warranted against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, alleging that the company, McKesson Corp., did little to prevent huge quantities of addictive opioid medications from being diverted to illegal use by pharmacies that were, in some cases, knowingly supplying illegal drug rings.

In other words, this isn't just a story of simple negligence; it's a story about whether drug manufacturers and distributors turned a willfully blind eye toward illegal drug trafficking.

Defenders of opioid painkillers often argue that these medications are essential to people with chronic pain and that the vast majority of opioid prescriptions do not result in addiction or abuse. Instead, they contend, the prescription drug crisis is a myth and the real problems are more powerful, nonmedicinal opioids such as heroin and fentanyl, which account for the lion's share of overdoses in the country.

But to focus only on these facts lets drug producers off the hook.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has found that nearly 80 percent of all heroin users in the United States started with prescription opioids. Some of these people began using opioids through pain treatments; others became addicted as millions of pills starting pouring into pharmacies and ended up in black markets.

The Post's investigation illustrates a distribution system in which pharmacies, drug manufacturers and even --

[mabarker1]

Have at.

[heights]

America’s Alcohol crisis? Involved in 50% of Murders...Fatal car crashes...50% of all crime...Destroys families.

[HLPhat]

>>America’s Alcohol crisis

When 10 million Ukrainians and Volga-Germans were starved to death via the Holodomor - there was no grain, or alcohol, shortage.

https://www.google.com/&#=Holodomor+Alcohol&oq=Holodomor+Alcohol

Quack, Waddle...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=200+years+together+solzhenitsyn

Now available in ENGLISH:

https://www.google.com/search?q=200+years+together+solzhenitsyn

https://wikispooks.com/wiki/200_Years_Together

[HLPhat]

https://www.google.com/search?q=Holodomor+Alcohol

[MHT]

Aren’t the doctors the truly complicit ones? Don’t you need their signatures as the delivery system between company and consumer?

[i_robot73]

Yet *another* issue started by *drum roll, please*: GOVT.

Govt writing/passing/enforcing sh!tty ‘laws’ (not needed, if not AUTHORIZED), along w/ the judicial (lawyers & judges) ‘revolving-door’ theory (bill > law > suit > decree > repeat).

Unfortunately, still too much ‘care’ put into Mon. Night Football & Dancing w/ Stars for The People to not give a rat’s rear end one way or another (unless/until it’s THEIR ox gored).

[43north]

Most of the hydro- and oxy-codone products are generics. There is just not that much profit in these to believe that the drug companies were overly complicit. On the other hand, legend drugs like Oxycontin, MS-contin, etc. can make the patent-holder a LOT of money if overly prescribed. Follow the money.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Right now the CDC should be compiling the *demographic* information of those who have died of opioid abuse.

The raw numbers themselves are staggering, but that would be nothing compared to a table of ages, genders, and races.

Truthfully, this information might be too shocking for public release, at least at first, but would galvanize the government to act asap.

[cherry]

America look in the mirror...you're drug addled in every single way and yet you deny, deny, deny....

sure is easy to blame some big corporation though...

so when you demand an antibiotic for every single cough or sneeze or HA you are part of the problem....

and "legal" opioids ARE the problem, if it makes one more person dependent on drugs, even if they say they're not addicted.

[mabarker1]

OK let Me enlighten everybody on My rodeo Yesterday.

I have Neuropathy in both legs from the knees down and in both hands. I've had this for 10 plus years with it getting worse daily. (and no I am NOT Diabetic) I also have a broken right ankle and torn ligament that I was rewarded with while cleaning carpet 3 months ago. I thought it was just sprained. So much for thinking...

I am allergic to Lyrica and Gabapentin and they do nothing to help My pain either.

My pain gets so bad I'm nauseous and can't eat.

Now back to yesterday. I've been out of My pain meds for a week as My Doctor is only allowed to Rx 2 weeks of My meds. I saw Him on 12/01/17 and got the Rx. I made that last until the 18th.

After spending the last 5 days in bed in high levels of pain I finally gave up and went to ER for some relief. After getting there I was Checked in and about 15 minutes later was Triaged and then back out to the Waiting Room.

About 2.5 hours later they get Me in a room and about another 45 minutes or so I get to see the PA. She says that She was looking at My records and asked about My broken ankle. I said it was still broken and the Tendon was still torn because I have no Insurance and no money to pay up front to get it fixed. I said I guess that it's healing in the wrong place. I told Her I was here for some pain relief for My Neuropathy. She evaluated My feet for a few minutes.

She replied that They can't write Rx for My pain meds. I told Her I know that I'm here for some in house meds please, I've been in pain for the last week and need a break- PLEASE ! Then She said OK and I thanked Her. She left to go type up the orders.

About 15 minutes later in comes the Nurse with Discharge papers. I asked about meds and She said "I'll go check" a few minutes later the Nurse returns with 1 extended relief pain pill and a vial/hypodermic. I asked what do we have and She said it was Toradol. I had never had that so I figured what the hell let's give it a shot (no pun intended) so She gives Me the pain pill (I bit the pill in half so I could save the other half for Christmas Day with the Family and at least have a tolerable pain level for the day.) and starts preparing the shot.

I get stuck and tell her Thank You and please tell the PA the same. I I go out to wait for My ride. Counting travel time I spent about 6 hours just to get a break from CONSTANT PAIN.

This "war on Opioids" is a bunch of crap for those of Us that have a legitimate use for them.

[mabarker1]

You must be one of the lucky enlightened ones that knows All and has never been in constant pain- day in, day out, night after night, hour after hour, year after year.

Not being able to do things like cook dinner, do laundry, take out the trash, play with the Grandson or the Dogs, hold on to a glass with 1 hand, mow the lawn or work in the garden. Maybe I should add being able to stand long enough to take a shower, shave, turn a key in a lock, turn a door knob, walk around the block with ones Spouse and the Dogs.

I don’t even drive anymore. By MY choice because I have to look down to see which pedal I’m pressing for sure I respect the safety of everyone on the road so I stopped by MY CHOICE.

Should I keep listing more things that people like you take for granted ???

It must be nice...

PS Merry Christmas (I’ll add wrapping presents to the list as well)

[mabarker1]

Yes and they/We may find that the OD’s are mostly JUNKIES buying it on the street.

Meanwhile people like Me have to go through hell getting Meds LEGALLY just to try to have a normal day in life.

Merry Christmas.

[mabarker1]

I know from experience that it isn’t cheap. 60 extended relief Morophine pills cost Me $200.00 a month. If I can just get the Rx for them.

I am currently waiting to go to a “Pain Clinic” on 01/08/18 at a cost out of pocket of $425 for the 1st visit. They tell Me that no Rx’s will happen till I come back 2 weeks later for the consult.

That really takes a bite out of the $1200.00 a month SSDI I get.

[mabarker1]

Agreed

[HLPhat]

>>This "war on Opioids" is a bunch of crap for those of Us that have a legitimate use for them.

The big guy on the right was my uncle, a giant and a hero in multiple ways.  He had a legitimate use for them too - having had both knees replaced after playing Football at Michigan State back circa 1972, and awaiting hip replacement.

But the "use" they served when he became addicted and found they helped ease the mental anguish associated with being the 1st provider who pronounced those kids deceased... was probably not-so-legitimate.

He retired early and died quietly in bed thanks to his "legitimate needs".

Broken ankle and torn ligaments? I've had both, and worse, and never used opiates.

Get over it and stay alive.

[mabarker1]

There are good Doc's and bad ones. Each should be checked out one at a time. Let's have the govt workers ACCTUALLY do a job for once.

[Chode]

have you looked into a tens unit?

[cradle of freedom]

Don’t forget that such virtuous people as Bill and Hillary Clinton, the Podestas and terrorist Bill Ayers sit on the boards of many corporations.

[mabarker1]

This Thread is about Opioids not Alcohol.

You are entitled to your opinion but please stay on topic here.

Thank You.

Merry Christmas

[mabarker1]

I'm sorry for Your loss.

Pain meds are not for mental anguish.

If the Doc gave Your Uncle pain meds for that then I blame the Doc.

My ankle/ligament problem is NOT the reason for My use of pain meds- it's for severe Neuropathy.

See My Post #11