Finally! All the benefits of the opioids, with none of the dangers.
For clarity: I'm referring to all the previous attempts to "fix" the synthetic opioids, each of which ended up making a stronger, more dangerous opioid.
Not just OxyContin. Also Heroin, Meperidine and Tramadol.
We get another "morphine, but safe this time" in pretty reliable 40 year intervals. I guess someone decided OxyContin doesn't count and we are due for another one
To be honest I would prefer addicts could get heroin prescribed. The primary danger of street drugs is the inconsistent purity and chemicals it’s cut with. If it was pharmaceutical grade and everyone prescribed was on a list, we would have fewer overdoses and a better understanding of who to put in treatment
Most heroin overdoses happen either from a sudden increase in supply purity, or from an abstinent addict relapsing and taking their regular dose without realizing they have lost their tolerance.
Any kind of rational change in policy is not happening as long as entire lucrative industries of policing, health care and religion-as-a-social-service are dependent on the dependent.
On the one hand, I'm sure that the post you're responding to is referencing many previous failed attempts at making non-addictive opioid painkillers.
But on the other, non-sarcastic side... if addiction is the only remaining problem with them, should we care that much?
I.E. if both the chronic and acute health risks are gone (which I don't think they are for a second, but follow me along on this little thought experiment)... does it matter quite so much? Clearly addiction, in the abstract, is not exactly a good thing. But if it's not coupled to risk of death it seems to me it would be a great thing to transition addicted people to, and take away some of the urgency of the situation.
I agree. I would say that I am addicted to caffeine. I definitely get withdrawal symptoms if I don't have a coffee. But since it is so accessible and there are no health risks, it does not affect me negatively to "feed" the addiction.
and the fun fact, the other new drug targeting the mid-receptor of acetyl-choline that functions like mu-opioid receptor also has the same exact addiction problems.
I mean that is great. But the overuse of opioids in Us is crazy. I am from europe, had broken arm, sprained ankles, broken fingers, root canals done, appendix operation and never got anything stronger than ibuprofen. Hopefully, the prescription craziness is getting better.
It's been cut back pretty hard in the last 5 or so years? Even after major surgeries you get very short prescriptions, or only get them in the hospital under monitoring. I think we got a little too cautious personally but it's definitely trying to swing the curve away.
Finally! All the benefits of the opioids, with none of the dangers.
For clarity: I'm referring to all the previous attempts to "fix" the synthetic opioids, each of which ended up making a stronger, more dangerous opioid.
The danger of addiction, which is very significant, with opioids doesn’t go away with this modified design.
Unless you’re being sarcastic and referencing the lies the Sackler family used to get OxyContin popular..
That being said it is indeed quite cool that they modified the drug to decrease the respiratory depression.
Not just OxyContin. Also Heroin, Meperidine and Tramadol.
We get another "morphine, but safe this time" in pretty reliable 40 year intervals. I guess someone decided OxyContin doesn't count and we are due for another one
To be honest I would prefer addicts could get heroin prescribed. The primary danger of street drugs is the inconsistent purity and chemicals it’s cut with. If it was pharmaceutical grade and everyone prescribed was on a list, we would have fewer overdoses and a better understanding of who to put in treatment
Most heroin overdoses happen either from a sudden increase in supply purity, or from an abstinent addict relapsing and taking their regular dose without realizing they have lost their tolerance.
Any kind of rational change in policy is not happening as long as entire lucrative industries of policing, health care and religion-as-a-social-service are dependent on the dependent.
The chinese factories and cartels can hop on this new formula not.
On the one hand, I'm sure that the post you're responding to is referencing many previous failed attempts at making non-addictive opioid painkillers.
But on the other, non-sarcastic side... if addiction is the only remaining problem with them, should we care that much?
I.E. if both the chronic and acute health risks are gone (which I don't think they are for a second, but follow me along on this little thought experiment)... does it matter quite so much? Clearly addiction, in the abstract, is not exactly a good thing. But if it's not coupled to risk of death it seems to me it would be a great thing to transition addicted people to, and take away some of the urgency of the situation.
I agree. I would say that I am addicted to caffeine. I definitely get withdrawal symptoms if I don't have a coffee. But since it is so accessible and there are no health risks, it does not affect me negatively to "feed" the addiction.
Tyler Cowen has said that he doesn't drink coffee and he is worried about what it might be doing to us. There is a big unknown.
Mark Zuckerberg, is that you?
Ha, you won’t find me arguing addiction to meta products is harmless ;)
and the fun fact, the other new drug targeting the mid-receptor of acetyl-choline that functions like mu-opioid receptor also has the same exact addiction problems.
[delayed]
I mean that is great. But the overuse of opioids in Us is crazy. I am from europe, had broken arm, sprained ankles, broken fingers, root canals done, appendix operation and never got anything stronger than ibuprofen. Hopefully, the prescription craziness is getting better.
It's been cut back pretty hard in the last 5 or so years? Even after major surgeries you get very short prescriptions, or only get them in the hospital under monitoring. I think we got a little too cautious personally but it's definitely trying to swing the curve away.