I got a feeling that a lot of people on opioids would be better served on regular NSAIDs. I might be wrong though
I have mixed feelings about this stemming from, unfortunately, about 14 years of personal experience. I've had 2 major surgeries and a 3rd is on the horizon, coupled with potential stem cell treatment that I'll be paying out of pocket for. I've been on and off prescription opiates since I was 19. I'll admit that it is a little unsettling to think about being 19 and going to the doctor and getting a script for 180 VicodenES 7.5's -BEFORE- I even had any MRIs or CatScans, but that's what happened back in the early 2000s. That's just how it was.
Notice how I said WAS - it DEFINITELY isn't like that now, despite what these politicians say with their monday morning quarterbacking. Now with the stigma and regulations it's almost impossible to get anything like that, unless you're "grandfathered" in or are treating cancer pain. I know of 2 pain management doctors who left the business all together, and at my current pain management clinic they've systematically lowered every patient to the lowest possible dose of opiates and are refusing any opiate scripts for new, incoming patients. But these politicians will have you think that Pill Mills are on every corner. Nah... maybe 12-15 years ago. Where was all the outrage then? Who didn't predict this?
Anyway Sessions is an out of touch bozo. I don't think opiates are a viable long term solution for pain management for ANYONE . I was on them for years and I'll tell you the re-bound pain from the pills wearing off was worse than the pain it was supposed to treat. They stunt any sort of personal growth, physically or spiritually. I can count on less than both hands the number of times that they were NECESSARY for me, despite being on them for years. They should be used coupled with more pro-active forms of treatment like healthy diet, exercise, physical therapy. Coupled with a NSAID as well. And that's what is starting to happen now. Doctors saw this coming and they acted accordingly starting around 2010 or so (outside of Florida anyway). For some people in serious chronic pain they need a good dose of opiates just jump-start their systems to be able to physically do some of the more pro-active treatment methods like exercise and physical therapy.
What people like Sessions and these "came to do good, stayed to do well" politicians should start trying to figure out - are why young people are turning towards escape and heroin to begin with. There isn't a prescription pill problem spearheaded by doctors and big pharma. There was, back in the early to mid 2000s. Not anymore. There is a heroin and fentanyl problem now. They should try to combat the social and economic conditions that are leading towards millions of young people "dropping out" of life all together.
Doctor shopping, pharmacy hopping, etc.. And these doctors are a trip too. Every month we stop accepting claims for scripts written by docs, nurses, physician assistants, etc., who are gaming the system.
