Should opioid over-prescribing doctors face charges?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Opioids should not be prescribed until all other options and therapies are exhausted, and then there should be a need for a second opinion. This will not be a problem for the patients who are in serious pain, it may slow things down for those with general complaints.

Where did you get your medical degree? What you suggest goes way to far and would impinge on good doctors who are helping patients in the way we all would hope and expect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My parent is on long term low dose of opioids for a back injury. They never take more than prescribed. When the prescription runs out, they are unable to move and are in a level of pain that was similar to when I gave birth. They've tried physical therapy, surgery, you name it.

They have to visit a pain management clinic monthly for their prescription which rules their life. You have to plan vacations around it. They've missed my kid's births. Additionally, pharmacies already treat people like my parents like crap. The pharmacy will wait until 5 minutes before closing to fill the prescription, even if it's placed at 8am. You can't pharmacy shop because that looks like drug seeking behavior.

I'm not sure what you'd do for people like my parent if opioids were outlawed. Every few years their insurance makes them try other drugs like Vicodin or pain patches. They basically have to lay in bed in pain and itch because those don't work and they can't walk.

Btw, no one has any idea about my parent's back issues. They're a highly functioning member of society who is creative, caring and intelligent. They travel often.

There's no way you can know this. Pain is so subjective. Also, were you medicated when you gave birth? I wasn't and there's a big difference. Your parent sounds like an addict.

Not PP, but my mother is also on low-dose narcotics for an inoperable back issue that’s already been operated on twice. She risks paralysis if operated on again. Therapy hasn’t helped. She gets a certain number of pills a month, not 31, more like 20. So she goes without on days when her pain is only moderately severe, so she can save pills in case she has a particularly rough month. The cold weather doesn’t help, so in the winter, she’s in agony more. But she’s no addict. She will go days in pain with pills in the kitchen cabinet waiting for her to take them, because tomorrow might be worse than today.

This is my mom. She’s not an addict. She’d love to be off the pills. She’s tried everything and it hasn’t cured her pain. She had a high pain tolerance and had 3 babies unmedicated and never took drugs even for cavities. What would you have her do for her back pain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My parent is on long term low dose of opioids for a back injury. They never take more than prescribed. When the prescription runs out, they are unable to move and are in a level of pain that was similar to when I gave birth. They've tried physical therapy, surgery, you name it.

They have to visit a pain management clinic monthly for their prescription which rules their life. You have to plan vacations around it. They've missed my kid's births. Additionally, pharmacies already treat people like my parents like crap. The pharmacy will wait until 5 minutes before closing to fill the prescription, even if it's placed at 8am. You can't pharmacy shop because that looks like drug seeking behavior.

I'm not sure what you'd do for people like my parent if opioids were outlawed. Every few years their insurance makes them try other drugs like Vicodin or pain patches. They basically have to lay in bed in pain and itch because those don't work and they can't walk.

Btw, no one has any idea about my parent's back issues. They're a highly functioning member of society who is creative, caring and intelligent. They travel often.

There's no way you can know this. Pain is so subjective. Also, were you medicated when you gave birth? I wasn't and there's a big difference. Your parent sounds like an addict.

Not PP, but my mother is also on low-dose narcotics for an inoperable back issue that’s already been operated on twice. She risks paralysis if operated on again. Therapy hasn’t helped. She gets a certain number of pills a month, not 31, more like 20. So she goes without on days when her pain is only moderately severe, so she can save pills in case she has a particularly rough month. The cold weather doesn’t help, so in the winter, she’s in agony more. But she’s no addict. She will go days in pain with pills in the kitchen cabinet waiting for her to take them, because tomorrow might be worse than today.

This is my mom. She’s not an addict. She’d love to be off the pills. She’s tried everything and it hasn’t cured her pain. She had a high pain tolerance and had 3 babies unmedicated and never took drugs even for cavities. What would you have her do for her back pain?

When I get cavities drilled, I can handle it without any medication. Its really not that painful compared to my normal pain and I know it will be over in a minute or two.

[Anonymous]

If they wrote more RXs for opioids than the number of patients they could actually see in a workday then they should definitely be jailed. Same for those who wrote only opioid prescriptions (while working for pill mills).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This will make people turn to street drugs. I’ve seen it in my own family. People who have a legitimate need for pain meds will turn to street drugs for relief. They were easily controlled on Vicodin but it’s a whole different thing when they start doing street drugs that might be cut. Or even pot

I've been prescribed Vicodin when I didn't even need Motrin. That's the problem.

[Anonymous]

Yes. They created addicts who made is harder for those in real pain to get pain meds. Was with someone who had a severe break and surgery and the doc refused pain meds after 24 hrs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Likely a minority opinion but...
The avg person who gets an opioid for a real reason is going to take them, and stop them when the pain decreases. I was prescribed them a couple of times in my life (4 impacted wisdom teeth, car accident, broken back from a fall on ice). It would t have occurred to me to seek them. All three times I never even finished the bottles.

The idea that taking them once can make you an addict is insane.

People who take them wrongly, illicitly, needlessly...
they are weak minded. They are trying to kill whatever physical or emotional pain they have bc they aren’t willing to experience the pain and work through it.

Why do we have an epidemic? Too many people who think they should never feel bad, have to hear things that might “trigger” them, that no one is allowed to hurt their feelings, etc.

Basically snowflakes raised by snowflakes.

It’s all in your genes.

Addiction is is bad in my family history. My brother is an alcoholic and yet my sister and I don’t really drink or have the desire.

I’ve had two situations where pain killers were prescribed and both times, I loved them. I could definitely see that appeal and found myself getting upset that they were almost out. That’s terrifying. I’ll probably refuse them in the future. My sister has had multiple surgeries and has no issues with the meds given. She takes some the first few days and then discards of them at the pharmacy.

[Anonymous]

Last time I checked, this was still America. A handful of doctors will get high profile convictions. Some will get lengthy prison terms that they will not serve. Corporate executives and stock holders remain comfortable (absolutely not rich!)

It's all the fault of the addict.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know some doctors have lost their license over this, but do you think some of the most egregious behavior should warrant more?

Absolutely. They were complicit with the drug companies. They knew they were overprescribing and knew the consequences and dangers.