4 ms·

Or we could pass universal healthcare and get drug addicts the healthcare they need to fix their addiction problems and thus lower demand for the products. Nah,

Or we could pass universal healthcare and get drug addicts the healthcare they need to fix their addiction problems and thus lower demand for the products. Nah, let’s create a massive surveillance state and keep drug addicts homeless and living in poverty. It’s what the private health insurance companies want.

lockhouse 3y ago
The private health insurance companies are not the ones pushing for this, it’s the intelligence community.
- wildrhythms 3y ago
  It's all interlinked man. >A handful of members of Congress, allied with the nation’s major drug distributors, prevailed upon the DEA and the Justice Department to agree to a more industry-friendly law, undermining efforts to stanch the flow of pain pills, according to an investigation by The Washington Post and “60 Minutes.” The DEA had opposed the effort for years. The law was the crowning achievement of a multifaceted campaign by the drug industry to weaken aggressive DEA enforcement efforts against drug distribution companies that were supplying corrupt doctors and pharmacists who peddled narcotics to the black market. The industry worked behind the scenes with lobbyists and key members of Congress, pouring more than a million dollars into their election campaigns. https://archive.is/TMfA4 https://archive.is/TMfA4 https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/investigations/dea-drug-industry-congress/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/investigations/...
nonethewiser 3y ago
> Or we could pass universal healthcare and get drug addicts ... This is rather off topic. You could say this in response to literally any effort that is not healthcare for drug addicts.
- coderintherye 3y ago
  [flagged]
  - NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
    It's a false dichotomy, because the legislature could do both, or neither.
    - lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago
      Perhaps the phrasing suggests a dichotomy but it’s worthwhile to point out that this organization uses resources to attempt to increase their surveillance capabilities while ignoring strategies which might obviate their existence.
      - NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
        I assume that by "this organization", you are referring to the DEA. The organization that's considering legislation is the U.S. Senate. The DEA can lobby for funding and capabilities and whatever they want, and the HHS and FDA can lobby for funding and capabilities and whatever they want too. Why would the DEA lobby for health care-based treatments? They're in law enforcement. Also... https://www.dea.gov/what-we-do/education-and-prevention https://www.dea.gov/what-we-do/education-and-prevention Speaking of health care, the DEA would not go away if illicit drug addiction were solved. They are the ones who license physicians to prescribe medication. So are y'all advocating for OTC-everything, and no controlled substances? Like, propofol for all? Chemotherapy at your corner drugstore? Complimentary COVID vaccine with your Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream?
        boredpeter 3y ago
        > Speaking of health care, the DEA would not go away if illicit drug addiction were solved. They are the ones who license physicians to prescribe medication. So are y'all advocating for OTC-everything, and no controlled substances? Like, propofol for all? Chemotherapy at your corner drugstore? Complimentary COVID vaccine with your Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream? No I’m advocating for fixing/reducing the drug problems in the US by enacting universal healthcare instead of giving another law enforcement agency unprecedented surveillance powers. I’m advocating for a solution that 32/33 developed countries have already adopted but the US hasn’t because it’s run by immensely corrupt conservative politicians that happily take bribes and give corporations what they want at the expense of regular people.
vorpalhex 3y ago
Drug addicts don't buy much stuff. If it's some great conspiracy to push drug addicts to buy more pharmaceuticals, you want to sell them high end antidepressents like xanax, not cheap pain pills and fent. So either the masterminds of your brilliant conspiracy are idiots, or it's not a brilliant conspiracy and just plain old drug trafficking. Most drug addicts of the fent variety don't want treatment because treatment means no longer indulging in their drug of choice. It's the same reason why they tend to be fighty when you fix their OD via narcan - you "ruined" their high. I recommend actually spending some time with the drug addicts likely living nearby. Bring them a few sandwiches. Ask if they would seek care and if not, why not.

lockhouse 3y ago

The private health insurance companies are not the ones pushing for this, it’s the intelligence community.

wildrhythms 3y ago
It's all interlinked man. >A handful of members of Congress, allied with the nation’s major drug distributors, prevailed upon the DEA and the Justice Department to agree to a more industry-friendly law, undermining efforts to stanch the flow of pain pills, according to an investigation by The Washington Post and “60 Minutes.” The DEA had opposed the effort for years. The law was the crowning achievement of a multifaceted campaign by the drug industry to weaken aggressive DEA enforcement efforts against drug distribution companies that were supplying corrupt doctors and pharmacists who peddled narcotics to the black market. The industry worked behind the scenes with lobbyists and key members of Congress, pouring more than a million dollars into their election campaigns. https://archive.is/TMfA4 https://archive.is/TMfA4 https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/investigations/dea-drug-industry-congress/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/investigations/...

nonethewiser 3y ago

> Or we could pass universal healthcare and get drug addicts ... This is rather off topic. You could say this in response to literally any effort that is not healthcare for drug addicts.

coderintherye 3y ago
[flagged]
- NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
  It's a false dichotomy, because the legislature could do both, or neither.
  - lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago
    Perhaps the phrasing suggests a dichotomy but it’s worthwhile to point out that this organization uses resources to attempt to increase their surveillance capabilities while ignoring strategies which might obviate their existence.
    - NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
      I assume that by "this organization", you are referring to the DEA. The organization that's considering legislation is the U.S. Senate. The DEA can lobby for funding and capabilities and whatever they want, and the HHS and FDA can lobby for funding and capabilities and whatever they want too. Why would the DEA lobby for health care-based treatments? They're in law enforcement. Also... https://www.dea.gov/what-we-do/education-and-prevention https://www.dea.gov/what-we-do/education-and-prevention Speaking of health care, the DEA would not go away if illicit drug addiction were solved. They are the ones who license physicians to prescribe medication. So are y'all advocating for OTC-everything, and no controlled substances? Like, propofol for all? Chemotherapy at your corner drugstore? Complimentary COVID vaccine with your Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream?
      - boredpeter 3y ago
        > Speaking of health care, the DEA would not go away if illicit drug addiction were solved. They are the ones who license physicians to prescribe medication. So are y'all advocating for OTC-everything, and no controlled substances? Like, propofol for all? Chemotherapy at your corner drugstore? Complimentary COVID vaccine with your Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream? No I’m advocating for fixing/reducing the drug problems in the US by enacting universal healthcare instead of giving another law enforcement agency unprecedented surveillance powers. I’m advocating for a solution that 32/33 developed countries have already adopted but the US hasn’t because it’s run by immensely corrupt conservative politicians that happily take bribes and give corporations what they want at the expense of regular people.

vorpalhex 3y ago

Drug addicts don't buy much stuff. If it's some great conspiracy to push drug addicts to buy more pharmaceuticals, you want to sell them high end antidepressents like xanax, not cheap pain pills and fent. So either the masterminds of your brilliant conspiracy are idiots, or it's not a brilliant conspiracy and just plain old drug trafficking. Most drug addicts of the fent variety don't want treatment because treatment means no longer indulging in their drug of choice. It's the same reason why they tend to be fighty when you fix their OD via narcan - you "ruined" their high. I recommend actually spending some time with the drug addicts likely living nearby. Bring them a few sandwiches. Ask if they would seek care and if not, why not.