Topic: addiction medications

The real issue is that Kratom use is already so widespread that attempts at a total ban would inevitably create hardship for those who are already dependent on the drug, as well as fuel the appearance of a thriving black market.

Not surprisingly, the vast majority of patients who drop out or otherwise leave maintenance programs return to heroin at rates of 80% or higher.

As the old chief says in the movie Little Big Man: “Sometimes the magic works, sometimes it doesn’t.”

Would you respond to this information with a concerted effort at self-examination and profound behavior change?

Naloxone is there to prevent someone from injecting Suboxone to get high.

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.

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.

Many physicians don’t want to offer opioid maintenance. They’re happy to refer out, to an addictionologist or psychiatrist with training.