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I disagree. Look at Portugal, which decriminalized opioid use and started viewing it as a treatable medical condition. They went from the highest to one of the

by aqme28 9y ago

I disagree. Look at Portugal, which decriminalized opioid use and started viewing it as a treatable medical condition. They went from the highest to one of the lowest rates of opioid use in Europe.

frozenport 9y ago
European doctors didn't prescribe the same stuff American doctors prescribed, and unlike the US if you did get something prescribed it was easier to keep the prescription (so you didn't turn to heroin, etc).
x00x00 9y ago
Portugal didn't have pharma companies and doctors selling opioids as being safe to regular people. That is what makes the USA unique - it's almost impossible to be prescribed strong opiates anywhere else in the world, let alone to be told that they're safe.
- koolba 9y ago
  I'm pretty sure we're the only country that has commercials for "Opioid Induced Constipation" drugs as well. You know something is prevalent when the drugs to treat its side effects are worthy of prime time advertising.
  - pacificmint 9y ago
    > I'm pretty sure we're the only country that has commercials for "Opioid Induced Constipation" drugs as well. Well, we're one of only two countries in the world that allow direct to consumer advertising for drugs at all, so your statement is probably true. (New Zealand is the other one for those curious, with Canada having some limited things they allow).
    - ryall 9y ago
      As a kiwi myself, I'm genuinely curious about what drugs are advertised in NZ. I can't recall any such advertisements, apart from maybe flu pills that contain pseudo-ephedrine?
      - shavingspiders 9y ago
        We don't have many - panadol & ibuprofen combos, viagra generics, branded asthma drugs. Generally they purchase ad spots outside of prime time (and likely with more regularity on channels like One & Prime, where there's a slightly older audience.
  - rconti 9y ago
    Or commercials for pharmaceuticals at all.
  - derefr 9y ago
    My hypothesis there would be, those people are prequalified—the fact that they're consuming opioids means that they 1. have money and 2. are willing to spend that money on drugs to fix their suffering. Selling them an add-on drug that relieves the suffering from the first drug seems like "easy money."
pouta 9y ago
One of the few things that makes me proud of my country.

by aqme28 9y ago

I disagree. Look at Portugal, which decriminalized opioid use and started viewing it as a treatable medical condition. They went from the highest to one of the lowest rates of opioid use in Europe.

frozenport 9y ago

European doctors didn't prescribe the same stuff American doctors prescribed, and unlike the US if you did get something prescribed it was easier to keep the prescription (so you didn't turn to heroin, etc).

x00x00 9y ago

Portugal didn't have pharma companies and doctors selling opioids as being safe to regular people. That is what makes the USA unique - it's almost impossible to be prescribed strong opiates anywhere else in the world, let alone to be told that they're safe.

koolba 9y ago
I'm pretty sure we're the only country that has commercials for "Opioid Induced Constipation" drugs as well. You know something is prevalent when the drugs to treat its side effects are worthy of prime time advertising.
- pacificmint 9y ago
  > I'm pretty sure we're the only country that has commercials for "Opioid Induced Constipation" drugs as well. Well, we're one of only two countries in the world that allow direct to consumer advertising for drugs at all, so your statement is probably true. (New Zealand is the other one for those curious, with Canada having some limited things they allow).
  - ryall 9y ago
    As a kiwi myself, I'm genuinely curious about what drugs are advertised in NZ. I can't recall any such advertisements, apart from maybe flu pills that contain pseudo-ephedrine?
    - shavingspiders 9y ago
      We don't have many - panadol & ibuprofen combos, viagra generics, branded asthma drugs. Generally they purchase ad spots outside of prime time (and likely with more regularity on channels like One & Prime, where there's a slightly older audience.
- rconti 9y ago
  Or commercials for pharmaceuticals at all.
- derefr 9y ago
  My hypothesis there would be, those people are prequalified—the fact that they're consuming opioids means that they 1. have money and 2. are willing to spend that money on drugs to fix their suffering. Selling them an add-on drug that relieves the suffering from the first drug seems like "easy money."

pouta 9y ago

One of the few things that makes me proud of my country.