My point, mind you, was not to talk about current practices so much as to talk about big pharma's culpability in over-prescribing as a whole and contributing to widespread addiction in the same way as cartel bosses.
In many cases, a patient's pain is not being taken serious enough and if the pain is "addressed" why is no one is sending help to the address.
Since "The War On Drugs" has dramatically & obviously failed and the magnitude of the heroin & fentanyl debacle will never decline, I see nothing wrong with doing more for patients in pain.
The definitions regarding to pain have changed too much. The laws changing and effecting how a patient's pain has changed too much. Example, medical data on Google varies stating chronic pain is any pain lasting longer that 3 months and some states 9 months. Some data states chronic pain syndrome starts after having chronic pain for 3 months. I was diagnosed with chronic pain syndrome (CPS) after living with chronic pain for 25 years. That equates to 38 years.
There needs to be a more clear cut information in order to treat pain safely and effective without over doing the treatment from the start. By allowing patients to be treated accordingly to their actual pain levels, roots for the pain, according to tolerance & dependence levels, and according to patient prognosis. This is how the process starts effectively.
Unfortunately, there are patients in the system that have been legal Rx pain medications for long periods of time. They are also on other meds deemed taboo. On the same note, unfortunately patients have been abusing pain meds and other meds and now they need for legal reasons. So they need to get honest with their doctor to develop a positive plan.
Patients with chronic pain syndrome will typically require a handful of taboo medications to experience a decent quality of life. If the patient before entering chronic pain and/or chronic pain syndrome, and/or cancer pain, in most cases will require higher doses of medications than normal.
Besides pain and the increased chronic pain involved relating to the symptom, I have horrible fatigue issues, depression, anxiety, severe insomnia, I have difficulty concentrating in which has negative impacts on relationships with myself and others. I used to be one of the ultra relaxed person in a group. Now I am the guy now one wants to be around. The irritability I have build up inside is confusing and it can be draining itself always monitoring my words, how to treat others without upsetting them, and in general I get discouraged easily when I am trying my best.
This is a Google search that helps explain some of it :
- Fatigue:
Chronic pain can cause profound weariness and excessive sleepiness, impacting daily life.
- Mood Changes:
Depression, anxiety, and increased irritability are common, with some studies suggesting a significant percentage of individuals with chronic pain also experience depression.
- Sleep Disturbances:
Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restful sleep are frequently reported.
- Cognitive Difficulties:
Chronic pain can affect concentration and cognitive function, making it challenging to focus and remember things.
- Impact on Relationships:
The pain can strain personal relationships due to the emotional toll it takes on the individual and their loved ones, as well as potential financial strain.
- Physical Symptoms:
Besides pain, individuals may experience stiffness, achiness, and tenderness in various parts of the body.
- Increased Stress:
Chronic pain can be a constant source of stress, further exacerbating the other symptoms.
- Potential for Substance Use Disorders:
Individuals with chronic pain may turn to substances to cope with the pain and its associated challenges, potentially leading to addiction.
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Denying medications to patients because of a losing war to drugs and/or the lack of care to remove fentanyl/heroin is more than a crime against humanity.
With the ultra trained special forces and weapon capabilities just the USA has alone, the Mexican cartel's strongholds could be extinguished faster than someone would expect.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
