> I will note not every society has needed to use so many pain relievers. People are rightly pointing out that most societies didn't have the option, but I thi

> I will note not every society has needed to use so many pain relievers. People are rightly pointing out that most societies didn't have the option, but I think you have a point even so. My objection would be that other societies don't seem to have avoided painkillers by embracing pain; they seem to have actually felt less of it. Average health in the US is not good. Chronic ailments like inflammation, joint damage, and RSI are quite common, and even ostensibly healthy people are quite likely to report frequent pain or pain at work. So I think it's true that our reliance on painkillers is an error in how we relate to pain, but I disagree that the answer is accepting pain. Rather, the mistake is in using painkillers as a way to mask issues with overall health. Fixing that is hardly easy, and I don't think opposing painkillers is the way to make it happen, but it is important.