Thinking About Addiction

There’s a lag between the onset of an addictive disorder and arrival in treatment.

It’s no accident (physicians) choose this often challenging work, and it genuinely bothers them when they can’t relieve a patient’s discomfort.

As tired or sleep-deprived or in pain as he might have been that night, if he hadn’t taken the drugs, would he still be alive?

The pharmaceutical industry, in spite of their immense resources, may not be the best candidate to come up with a solution.

Current drug laws are structured in such a way as to leave law enforcement permanently behind and struggling to catch up.

A substantial number of patients will wind up taking these meds on a more or less permanent basis, so lifetime costs should be considered.

We routinely received assurances from experts that abuse and addiction were not going to be a big problem once access to opioids had been greatly expanded.

It doesn’t help that many states are cutting back funds for low-cost treatment, mostly due to budget problems.

I’m always surprised when some pro athlete tests positive on the first day of training camp– what, he didn’t get the memo?

Suboxone isn’t detectable on many drug screens, and that means it brings a higher price in the correctional facility.