8 ms·

"the average payment to physicians was $15, the top 1 percent of physicians reported receiving more than $2,600 annually in payments" Neither is enough to sway

"the average payment to physicians was $15, the top 1 percent of physicians reported receiving more than $2,600 annually in payments" Neither is enough to sway most physicians IMO. This seems to me like trying to stir up a scandal where there really isn't one. I did hear on the radio today that 90% of prescription opiates are sold in USA and Canada, with the bulk of that being the USA. Other countries treat pain more holistically.

gvd 9y ago
When I was living in Europe and had my wisdom-tooth removed I only got a local anesthetic so I wouldn't feel the cutting. Recently I heard a friend of mine (here in the US) say she was given vicodin afterwards. To me that's just insane. Sure I was a little uncomfortable for half a day but I'm not going to take bloody opioids because of that. It might also be the case that people just don't ask for it as easily as in the US (I mean, it's much more common to hear Americas place food orders with a bunch of custom stuff, Europeans usually just order what's on the menu).
- icelancer 9y ago
  I didn't get any pain pills after wisdom teeth. I had local anesthetic and nitrous oxide gas to ease me, but not enough to sedate me (and obviously, no IV). Some people are given pain pills because their teeth are impacted and the doctors have to break bones; the surgery is far more painful in the recovery stage than if it goes normally. Even still, a common theme amongst my friends who got vicodin after the surgery was them not taking the pills, or only taking a single dose the day after to manage the pain.
  - gvd 9y ago
    I'm not saying this happens everywhere, but there are plenty of odd cases where medication is given way to easy. They should create some central registry to monitor these prescriptions.
kartan 9y ago
> Neither is enough to sway most physicians IMO. It is not just a bribe. Companies spend a few dollars on advertisment per person to get more customers. When you can spend $2,600 on one doctor for advertisment purposes, you can do a lot to get their attention.
bbarn 9y ago
The question I immediately had, is which drug companies DON'T have an opiate in their lineup? Because as profitable, and easy to make as they are, I'd imagine most would qualify, and then saying "Opiod Makers".. becomes a bit misleading.

gvd 9y ago

When I was living in Europe and had my wisdom-tooth removed I only got a local anesthetic so I wouldn't feel the cutting. Recently I heard a friend of mine (here in the US) say she was given vicodin afterwards. To me that's just insane. Sure I was a little uncomfortable for half a day but I'm not going to take bloody opioids because of that. It might also be the case that people just don't ask for it as easily as in the US (I mean, it's much more common to hear Americas place food orders with a bunch of custom stuff, Europeans usually just order what's on the menu).

icelancer 9y ago
I didn't get any pain pills after wisdom teeth. I had local anesthetic and nitrous oxide gas to ease me, but not enough to sedate me (and obviously, no IV). Some people are given pain pills because their teeth are impacted and the doctors have to break bones; the surgery is far more painful in the recovery stage than if it goes normally. Even still, a common theme amongst my friends who got vicodin after the surgery was them not taking the pills, or only taking a single dose the day after to manage the pain.
- gvd 9y ago
  I'm not saying this happens everywhere, but there are plenty of odd cases where medication is given way to easy. They should create some central registry to monitor these prescriptions.

kartan 9y ago

> Neither is enough to sway most physicians IMO. It is not just a bribe. Companies spend a few dollars on advertisment per person to get more customers. When you can spend $2,600 on one doctor for advertisment purposes, you can do a lot to get their attention.

bbarn 9y ago

The question I immediately had, is which drug companies DON'T have an opiate in their lineup? Because as profitable, and easy to make as they are, I'd imagine most would qualify, and then saying "Opiod Makers".. becomes a bit misleading.