NPR: Why Is The Opioid Epidemic Overwhelmingly White?

[Anonymous]

Given the long thread we had a week or so ago I thought this was an interesting conversation.

http://www.npr.org/2017/11/04/562137082/why-is-the-opioid-epidemic-overwhelmingly-white

Something that we do know is that doctors prescribe narcotics more cautiously to their non-white patients. It would seem that if the patient is black, the doctor is more concerned about the patient becoming addicted, or maybe they're more concerned about the patient selling their pills, or maybe they are less concerned about pain in that population. But the black patient is less likely to be prescribed narcotics, and therefore less likely to wind up becoming addicted to the medication. So what I believe is happening is that racial stereotyping is having a protective effect on non-white populations.

[Anonymous]

That is interesting for sick and horrible reasons, but please inform me - is the bulk of the opioid crisis directly caused by patients taking drugs prescribed directly to them, or is it junkies taking drugs they bought on the black market? I thought it was the latter -

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is interesting for sick and horrible reasons, but please inform me - is the bulk of the opioid crisis directly caused by patients taking drugs prescribed directly to them, or is it junkies taking drugs they bought on the black market? I thought it was the latter -

My understanding is that it often begins with a valid prescription for pain management, then the patient gets addicted, and they have to go the illegal route to keep up with their addiction needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is interesting for sick and horrible reasons, but please inform me - is the bulk of the opioid crisis directly caused by patients taking drugs prescribed directly to them, or is it junkies taking drugs they bought on the black market? I thought it was the latter -

My understanding is that it often begins with a valid prescription for pain management, then the patient gets addicted, and they have to go the illegal route to keep up with their addiction needs.

Yeah and then once they get get the pills they turn to heroin.

[Anonymous]

CAN'T get the pills.

[Anonymous]

In rural areas, a lack of other treatment options (meaning you have to drive 100 miles to a physical therapist) means opiods for pain. And once you're hooked, you have to wait a long time and drive hours to get any sort of treatment for your addiction.

[Anonymous]

Anyone who is familiar with the opioid epidemic already deduced this.

[Anonymous]

Any non-white person could have told you this.

[Anonymous]

Sure or there are a lot more white people vs minorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who is familiar with the opioid epidemic already deduced this.

And yet in the other thread people were arguing this wasn't just a white people problem. Which is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Given the long thread we had a week or so ago I thought this was an interesting conversation.

http://www.npr.org/2017/11/04/562137082/why-is-the-opioid-epidemic-overwhelmingly-white

Something that we do know is that doctors prescribe narcotics more cautiously to their non-white patients. It would seem that if the patient is black, the doctor is more concerned about the patient becoming addicted, or maybe they're more concerned about the patient selling their pills, or maybe they are less concerned about pain in that population. But the black patient is less likely to be prescribed narcotics, and therefore less likely to wind up becoming addicted to the medication. So what I believe is happening is that racial stereotyping is having a protective effect on non-white populations.

I think this is bull. The doctors over prescribing these drugs aren't worried about anyone getting addicted--black or white. The majority of dialysis patients are African American. Doctors are educating them on diabetes and let their kidneys fail.

These medical practices are directed by powerful lobbies. Look up John Oliver's pieces on dialysis and opioids respectively. Good information there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given the long thread we had a week or so ago I thought this was an interesting conversation.

http://www.npr.org/2017/11/04/562137082/why-is-the-opioid-epidemic-overwhelmingly-white

Something that we do know is that doctors prescribe narcotics more cautiously to their non-white patients. It would seem that if the patient is black, the doctor is more concerned about the patient becoming addicted, or maybe they're more concerned about the patient selling their pills, or maybe they are less concerned about pain in that population. But the black patient is less likely to be prescribed narcotics, and therefore less likely to wind up becoming addicted to the medication. So what I believe is happening is that racial stereotyping is having a protective effect on non-white populations.

I think this is bull. The doctors over prescribing these drugs aren't worried about anyone getting addicted--black or white. The majority of dialysis patients are African American. Doctors are educating them on diabetes and let their kidneys fail.

These medical practices are directed by powerful lobbies. Look up John Oliver's pieces on dialysis and opioids respectively. Good information there.

You are wrong. I am a doctor and black. Yes, minorities have traditionally been prescribed fewer narcotics.
As I have said before, it is not that minorities get too few narcotics, it is that whites get too many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is interesting for sick and horrible reasons, but please inform me - is the bulk of the opioid crisis directly caused by patients taking drugs prescribed directly to them, or is it junkies taking drugs they bought on the black market? I thought it was the latter -

Don't know the answer to this question, but my opioid-addicted brother got all his drugs from his physician, including the ones he used to kill himself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who is familiar with the opioid epidemic already deduced this.

And yet in the other thread people were arguing this wasn't just a white people problem. Which is it?

It is not just a white people problem, but it mostly a white people problem. Although it is mostly a white people person, it impacts other races, also, which is minorities should not be ignored when addressing this problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who is familiar with the opioid epidemic already deduced this.

And yet in the other thread people were arguing this wasn't just a white people problem. Which is it?

It is not just a white people problem, but it mostly a white people problem. Although it is mostly a white people person, it impacts other races, also, which is minorities should not be ignored when addressing this problem.

Agree