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Simple economics: expensive legal prescription drugs drives people to source cheaper alternatives. Unfortunately, the cheaper alternative is also much more leth
by debt 7y ago
Simple economics: expensive legal prescription drugs drives people to source cheaper alternatives. Unfortunately, the cheaper alternative is also much more lethal.
I think there's a narrative that is the opioid crisis is driven by addiction, when it seems to be, and has historically has been, inefficient drug pricing.
- a_tractor 7y agoThe addiction narrative is there because opiates are well known for being highly addictive. People who are prescribed opiates for an injury suddenly find themselves without a supply once the prescription runs out and recovery is complete. They literally leave the health care system addicted to opiates, and without a prescription, there is no amount of money that will allow them to an opiate based drug from any legitimate, regulated source. Their only option from that point on is to turn to the streets in the pursuit of illicit and dangerous substitutes. Inefficient drug pricing has nothing to do with the not-so-uncommon story of the successful father of 3 who was a partner at a lawfirm who got prescribed Oxycontin when hurt his knee running a marathon and ended up living on the streets addicted to heroin. As if this problem is by any means limited to poor people.