Thinking About Addiction

The first time around, I thought it was the best-ever depiction of the impact of addiction on all levels of society– individuals, groups, institutions.

There are so many opiates and opioids out there that for purposes of comparison, their strength is measured in relation to morphine, the principal painkilling component of opium.

As has been the case in many states that have gone this route, it was the impassioned pleas of patients and family members that played a deciding role.

It’s the sort of evidence that convinced authorities to greatly expand access to opioids for chronic pain patients.

At the moment, we in America aren’t talking or thinking very much about the possible consequences of a dramatic increase in cannabis use.

The flaw in this very late-stage view of addiction… is the suggestion that somehow, addiction is the patient’s fault. Avoidable if the patient simply followed directions.

If Ginormous Study #1 happens to be flawed methodologically, those errors will carry right over into the meta-analysis process.

I’m sure some is used to suppress withdrawal, but if it’s possible to get high, then you have to figure people are doing that, too.

It’s hard to believe any American physician is unaware of the epidemic, but it appears that many have taken the position that it’s not their problem.