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Why do we continue to demonize those that use prescription pain meds? In doing so, we force them out of mainstream society, hurting our economy and communities

Why do we continue to demonize those that use prescription pain meds? In doing so, we force them out of mainstream society, hurting our economy and communities in the process.

DanBC 9y ago
We're not demonising people who use the meds, we're demonising the system that irresponsibly markets and prescribes those meds, which fails to properly treat long term pain, and removes people from the workforce and society, and creates addicts.
Havoc 9y ago
It's not a use problem its an abuse problem.
- Khaine 9y ago
  Isn't it an addiction problem?
  - sametmax 9y ago
    Addiction is just 1 sliding to 2.
sametmax 9y ago
It's a mater of scale. This number of magnitude can only mean 2 things: - a lot of those people do not need to take those products. Then we have an substance abuse problem. - a lot of those people DO need to take them. Then we have a public health problem. In both cases, ouch.
- mcbits 9y ago
  Substance abuse isn't inherently immoral or ungodlike or whatever. In some cases it can cause harm. Causing harm is a problem at individual and societal levels. Public policy should aim to reduce harm, but our drug policies almost all aim to inflict multiple forms of devastating harm to scare or crush addicts into sobriety. Worse, it doesn't even solve the faux "problem" of substance abuse.
  - someonewhocar3s 9y ago
    Good job ignoring how some drugs really do f people up. The biggest problem with drugs is that we call them "drugs" and then make very specific claims about "drugs". It's molecules people, effects vary wildly!
  - sametmax 9y ago
    You confuse "abuse" and "consumption". "abuse" assumes there is harm.
    - mcbits 9y ago
      Abuse is any use that is unacceptable to those making the determination. With illegal and prescription drugs, that's usually any recreational use at all. Substitute "recreational use" for "abuse" if it makes you feel better about the semantics. Then we can dissect the finer points of "recreational". An LEO told me his use of wine wasn't recreational because he only used it socially, not for the effects, whereas recreational drug users are always using it for the effects.
apatters 9y ago
I didn't get the impression that the article was demonizing people who use meds at all. Did you?
louithethrid 9y ago
Deep within every human resides the thought "If i would run this place then-" which makes for great violations of the libertys of others and loud yelling, if others do the same to the majestic creature that is oneself.

Why do we continue to demonize those that use prescription pain meds? In doing so, we force them out of mainstream society, hurting our economy and communities in the process.

DanBC 9y ago

We're not demonising people who use the meds, we're demonising the system that irresponsibly markets and prescribes those meds, which fails to properly treat long term pain, and removes people from the workforce and society, and creates addicts.

Havoc 9y ago

It's not a use problem its an abuse problem.

Khaine 9y ago
Isn't it an addiction problem?
- sametmax 9y ago
  Addiction is just 1 sliding to 2.

sametmax 9y ago

It's a mater of scale. This number of magnitude can only mean 2 things: - a lot of those people do not need to take those products. Then we have an substance abuse problem. - a lot of those people DO need to take them. Then we have a public health problem. In both cases, ouch.

mcbits 9y ago
Substance abuse isn't inherently immoral or ungodlike or whatever. In some cases it can cause harm. Causing harm is a problem at individual and societal levels. Public policy should aim to reduce harm, but our drug policies almost all aim to inflict multiple forms of devastating harm to scare or crush addicts into sobriety. Worse, it doesn't even solve the faux "problem" of substance abuse.
- someonewhocar3s 9y ago
  Good job ignoring how some drugs really do f people up. The biggest problem with drugs is that we call them "drugs" and then make very specific claims about "drugs". It's molecules people, effects vary wildly!
- sametmax 9y ago
  You confuse "abuse" and "consumption". "abuse" assumes there is harm.
  - mcbits 9y ago
    Abuse is any use that is unacceptable to those making the determination. With illegal and prescription drugs, that's usually any recreational use at all. Substitute "recreational use" for "abuse" if it makes you feel better about the semantics. Then we can dissect the finer points of "recreational". An LEO told me his use of wine wasn't recreational because he only used it socially, not for the effects, whereas recreational drug users are always using it for the effects.

apatters 9y ago

I didn't get the impression that the article was demonizing people who use meds at all. Did you?

louithethrid 9y ago

Deep within every human resides the thought "If i would run this place then-" which makes for great violations of the libertys of others and loud yelling, if others do the same to the majestic creature that is oneself.