More nanny state stupidity, because politicians are smarter than doctors

[Thunder 57]

So I was in a pharmacy today, and saw a notice about new rules regarding pain medication that took effect on July 1st. It basically said that it may take longer to fill and that they may deny it at their discretion (which they've always been able to do, AFAIK).

Turns out it's not all about verification. There are laws that limit supply of pain meds to 3-7 days depending on the state. I love this quote from some dumbass Florida representative said:

“We are not trying to be doctors,” Boyd said, addressing Gonzalez’s criticism. “We are not trying to tell doctors how to do what they do, because they are the professionals. But I think there’s a little bit of work that needs to be done communicating, that with this horrible problem, we need to take dramatic steps to try to fix it.” (emphasis added).

Except that you are doing exactly that. It's all BS, and is not the right solution. It may end some diversion, sure, but in doing so it will inconvenience a ton of people. A few months back I got a prescription filled that I already needed ID for. To get that same prescription again I would basically have to have cancer. These medications are already controlled substances and prescription only, why does the government feel the need to step in and play doctor?

 

[crashtech]

Because they can, and so it looks like they're doing something.

 

[whm1974]

This will just make the problem much worse as this will cause folks to see pain relieve by other then legal means.

 

[Lanyap]

If medical marijuana ever gets off the ground in FL it might replace pain killers. Something has to be done about the opioid crisis in FL but this legislation is not the answer. Pharma has been dumping opiods in FL for awhile now.

 

[Thunder 57]

If medical marijuana ever gets off the ground in FL it might replace pain killers. Something has to be done about the opioid crisis in FL but this legislation is not the answer. Pharma has been dumping opiods in FL for awhile now.

I dunno, go after the people who abuse the system? Those that prescribe it?

 

[whm1974]

I dunno, go after the people who abuse the system? Those that prescribe it?

More like those who overprescribe it.

 

[Thunder 57]

More like those who overprescribe it.

Right, that is what I meant.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

The opioid epidemic running wild in the country and the heroin epidemic that spun off from it are 100% the responsibility of doctors. And while politicians should not be allowed to oversee anything, doctors most definitely need adult supervision because left to their own devices they're quite capable of fucking things up to an epic degree. Maybe this is not ideal legislation drafted by people who don't know what they're doing, but when it comes to long term pain management the doctors have proven that they don't know what they're doing either.

 

[PottedMeat]

Pharma has been dumping opiods in FL for awhile now.

their ex-DEA lawyers and the DOJ got together to kill off the DEA investigation (which was easily winnable) so they can keep going

 

[Fenixgoon]

The opioid epidemic running wild in the country and the heroin epidemic that spun off from it are 100% the responsibility of doctors. And while politicians should not be allowed to oversee anything, doctors most definitely need adult supervision because left to their own devices they're quite capable of fucking things up to an epic degree. Maybe this is not ideal legislation drafted by people who don't know what they're doing, but when it comes to long term pain management the doctors have proven that they don't know what they're doing either.

it's not just doctors though. arguably it's a systemic problem. pharma companies push doctors to prescribe more. doctors can readily prescribe physically and/or psychologically addictive drugs. patients get hooked for one reason or another. patients get cut off and can no longer access drugs, turn to illegal drugs, and OD. government has kept alternatives to opioids (MMJ) illegal.

hard to point the finger at any one group. that's why i say it's systemic.

 

[ch33zw1z]

it's not just doctors though. arguably it's a systemic problem. pharma companies push doctors to prescribe more. doctors can readily prescribe physically and/or psychologically addictive drugs. patients get hooked for one reason or another. patients get cut off and can no longer access drugs, turn to illegal drugs, and OD. government has kept alternatives to opioids (MMJ) illegal.

hard to point the finger at any one group. that's why i say it's systemic.

Don't leave out all the people sitting in jail, feeding that monster. Not everyone gets to od

 

[balloonshark]

You ever notice how they always go after the little guy and never go after the big fish causing the problem? That's exactly why nothing ever gets accomplished in this country.

I hurt my back in January. I have no idea what I did but the pain moved into my knee that night. I couldn't even stand long enough to make my coffee without sitting down several times near tears. Hydrocodone barely took the edge off and the muscle relaxer did nothing. If I was only given a 3 to 7 day supply I would have sought relief elsewhere. I honestly would have preferred an alternative as I got majorly constipated and AFAIK weed doesn't have that side effect.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

it's not just doctors though. arguably it's a systemic problem. pharma companies push doctors to prescribe more. doctors can readily prescribe physically and/or psychologically addictive drugs. patients get hooked for one reason or another. patients get cut off and can no longer access drugs, turn to illegal drugs, and OD. government has kept alternatives to opioids (MMJ) illegal.

hard to point the finger at any one group. that's why i say it's systemic.

That's utter bullshit. The pharma companies can't force doctors to do anything. They have no control and write no scrips. This is pure greed on the part of the American medical community. The goal is to see as many patients as possible because the more you see the more you bill. It's a conveyor belt that churns patients in and out of the office without stopping for time wasters like finding out how they're really doing. In, write scrip for painkillers, they fell better, out, NEXT!! This is 100% on doctors, they're the ones responsible for the patients long-term well-being, they're the ones signing the prescriptions and they're the ones who place fees over their Hippocratic Oath.

 

[Engineer]

This is why....because some doctors are as big of crooks as the politicians.

https://www.vox.com/science-and-hea...-epidemic-painkillers-west-virginia-shipments

I grew up 10 miles from that little town. There's basically about 15 businesses in the area and that's it.

 

[whm1974]

You ever notice how they always go after the little guy and never go after the big fish causing the problem? That's exactly why nothing ever gets accomplished in this country.

I hurt my back in January. I have no idea what I did but the pain moved into my knee that night. I couldn't even stand long enough to make my coffee without sitting down several times near tears. Hydrocodone barely took the edge off and the muscle relaxer did nothing. If I was only given a 3 to 7 day supply I would have sought relief elsewhere. I honestly would have preferred an alternative as I got majorly constipated and AFAIK weed doesn't have that side effect.

I for would like to see hard medical research actually being done on the benefits and risks of Medical Marijuana. I do know however that is really good for nausea and helping those with heavy loss of appetite to eat again.

 

[crashtech]

If information about the addiction potential of these drugs is readily available, why isn't the outcome the responsibility of the presumed adult that ingests them?

 

[whm1974]

If information about the addiction potential of these drugs is readily available, why isn't the outcome the responsibility of the presumed adult that ingests them?

How many of these adults bother to look up the information to be with, or simply not aware that they should? I actually read the papers my doctor has given me about the medicines I take.

 

[crashtech]

How many of these adults bother to look up the information to be with, or simply not aware that they should? I actually read the papers my doctor has given me about the medicines I take.

I don't know how many, nor do I know how many would be dissuaded from addiction just from reading a pamphlet. I do wonder to what lengths we're willing to go to save people from themselves, when it's not a stretch to presume that most should know better. The portrayal of everyone as victim wears thin eventually. Why don't we save that appellation for those who really merit it? Pill junkies are not victims of society, they're victims of themselves.

 

[whm1974]

I don't know how many, nor do I know how many would be dissuaded from addiction just from reading a pamphlet. I do wonder to what lengths we're willing to go to save people from themselves, when it's not a stretch to presume that most should know better. The portrayal of everyone as victim wears thin eventually. Why don't we save that appellation for those who really merit it? Pill junkies are not victims of society, they're victims of themselves.

Well I'm not willing to comprise the rights and liberties of everyone much less myself to save people from themselves. Yes, adults should take responsibility for their lives.

 

[imported_tajmahal]

So I was in a pharmacy today, and saw a notice about new rules regarding pain medication that took effect on July 1st. It basically said that it may take longer to fill and that they may deny it at their discretion (which they've always been able to do, AFAIK).

Turns out it's not all about verification. There are laws that limit supply of pain meds to 3-7 days depending on the state. I love this quote from some dumbass Florida representative said:

“We are not trying to be doctors,” Boyd said, addressing Gonzalez’s criticism. “We are not trying to tell doctors how to do what they do, because they are the professionals. But I think there’s a little bit of work that needs to be done communicating, that with this horrible problem, we need to take dramatic steps to try to fix it.” (emphasis added).

Except that you are doing exactly that. It's all BS, and is not the right solution. It may end some diversion, sure, but in doing so it will inconvenience a ton of people. A few months back I got a prescription filled that I already needed ID for. To get that same prescription again I would basically have to have cancer. These medications are already controlled substances and prescription only, why does the government feel the need to step in and play doctor?

Because it's an opioid crisis and we have to do something about opioids because people are overdosing on opioids and we need to prevent it and save people from themselves. Have some compassion!

 

[Thunder 57]

Because it's an opioid crisis and we have to do something about opioids because people are overdosing on opioids and we need to prevent it and save people from themselves. Have some compassion!

The answer is to go after the pill pushers that are in cahoots with whoever and making money of of prescribing pills. To make it a pain in the ass for the average bloke who just had a tooth pulled or joint surgery, etc, is the opposite of having compassion.

 

[imported_tajmahal]

The answer is to go after the pill pushers that are in cahoots with whoever and making money of of prescribing pills. To make it a pain in the ass for the average bloke who just had a tooth pulled or joint surgery, etc, is the opposite of having compassion.

Agreed, but then we wouldn't have a crisis to pass crappy unneeded legislation.

 

[Thunder 57]

Agreed, but then we wouldn't have a crisis to pass crappy unneeded legislation.

Exactly. It's the wrong solution to a problem. You don't even have to stop at the over-prescribers; You could go after "doctor shopers" to. Like if someone is seeing two doctors for the same condition and getting scripts filled at different pharmacies (though that itself is becoming much more difficult). Go after the people who divert the meds, not everyone.

 

[Lanyap]

I had major surgery several months ago and was prescribed 2 different opiods for pain. I took them for a few days and then started taking Tylenol for several weeks. I even had a post op infection.

 

[Vic]

The answer is to go after the pill pushers that are in cahoots with whoever and making money of of prescribing pills. To make it a pain in the ass for the average bloke who just had a tooth pulled or joint surgery, etc, is the opposite of having compassion.

Seems obvious. Why do you think that Trump chose a different enforcement response?