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Agree. Ignorant article.

Doctots were handing out these pills telling people they weren’t addictive and were safe. Many folks got hooked who should have never been given opioids in the first place.

For folks in constant pain from sag back problems it’s a big risk.

The idiot writer is one car wreck away from being in the same boat as those he ridicules.

I've know a few people who have become addicted to heroin, and I think we are way past blaming doctors for 'handing out pills'. Its been at least 10 years since manufacturers started adding caking agents to prevent snorting the pills. Its been at least 5 years since the federal government started to apply a large amount of scrutiny to doctors who prescribed a lot of pills. And, in heroin years 5 years is just about a lifetime.

The doctors aren't getting people hooked on pills. 'Big Pharma' isn't getting people hooked either. Rather, the vast majority of heroin users started recreationally...and a lot of people don't want to hear this, but it really started with a little weed, some mushrooms, some ectasy at a party, etc...and it escalates from there. IOW, these 20 year old addicts never made a visit to a doctor for 'back pain'.

No, I don't want heroin addicts to die from OD.

And no, I make no claim to know how to solve our drug problems (I've never personally known an addict to successfully shake addiction).

But I believe the blaming pill pushing doctors and 'big pharma' is a head in the sand approach. Its a combination of drug manufacturing becoming darn near industrialized (Mexico), with an increasingly efficient distribution system (Mexico), and lots of young people without much of a moral compass who have been conditioned to expect instant gratification...and, taught to always deflect their shortcomings onto others.

I herniated a disc in my neck and laid in bed for 3 weeks with my arm curled over and around my head. I was taking a Vicodin 750 every 2-3 hours and they were barely touching the pain. Eventually the pain started easing a little and I started slacking off on the Vicodin. Got up and walked into the kitchen sick. Sweating, weak, nauseous. Hubby said what’s wrong? I told him and he laughed and said...you’re addicted. I said nuh uh. He said. Uh huh.
I walked straight back to the bedroom and picked up the bottle and flushed them down the toilet. I went through about 5 days of withdrawal. Haven’t taken 1 since. Told doc I got addicted and she switched me to Tramadol.
Not sure what the answer is since these types of drugs are needed by people for pain. But I don’t like throwing billions and billions of taxpayer money at it either.