The Opioid Epidemic, How did We Get Here?

The opioid epidemic has been labeled as the worst drug crisis in United States history. The death toll has surpassed both car accidents and gun violence. While the crisis is affecting all demographics, it has had a devastating effect on rural communities. In this blog post, I will argue that corporations are to blame for the opioid epidemic. They have lied and deceived doctors in the past into prescribing opioids for chronic pain or any pain for that matter. As a result, millions of Americans are addicted to opioids. This needs to stop! We need to hold these corporations accountable for their role in creating this epidemic. Only then can we hope to address and solve this crisis. Drug companies and physicians have been receiving a lot of blame for the current opioid epidemic and both should. Many Physicians are responsible for over-prescribing medications and pushing opioids on the general population because it was a money maker for them let's be honest. I'm not here to dispute that pharmaceutical companies have played a role in this crisis, but I do believe that physicians should share some of the blame as well. Let me explain why. Pharmaceutical companies make a TON of money from selling opioids. In fact, they make more money from opioids than any other type of medication. So it's in their best interest to get these drugs into as many hands as possible. They've done an amazing job at marketing them and convincing both doctors and the general public that they are safe and non-addictive. This is simply not true, but sadly, a lot of people have fallen victim to these lies. Physicians knew people would get addicted to Oxycontin when it first came out, if not that had to realize that is was fairly quick, but they prescribed it anyways in order to make money. This is an issue that needs to be addressed, and I'm hopeful that my story will help do just that. It's up to all of us to learn about this issue and how we can fix it moving forward. Let's talk about what happens in the brain when a person is put on a opioid medication say after a surgery, or serious car or Motorcycle accident, or in my case all 3. It needs to be pointed out that this can truly happen to anyone that is being treated for serious pain.

As a person that has gone through a serious addiction to opioid medication, I can say that at first it is not as bad as some people make it out to be at first. In fact I controlled it succesfully for many years but then something changed. Yes, there are risks associated with taking them, but there are also risks with not taking them. For example, if a person has chronic pain and is not put on an opioid medication, they may end up in more pain than they were before. Additionally, opioids have been shown to help improve a person's mood and overall quality of life. So, while there are great risks associated with taking opioids, there are also risks with not taking them in certain situations. Ultimately, it is up to the individual and their doctor to decide whether or not an opioid medication is right for them. I remember when my doctor prescribed me Oxycontin to help me with my pain after surgery. I was skeptical at first, but I was assured that it wasn't addictive and that it would help me get through the healing process. Boy, was I wrong falling for their BS. Not only was the drug addictive, but it also didn't even help relieve the pain as promised, in retrospect it caused so much more pain in my life. It has been years since I've taken Oxycontin, but the memories of how terrible it made me feel still linger. Apparently, I'm not alone in this experience - many doctors now know that Oxycontin is not non-addictive as Purdue Pharma claimed. So why did they continue to prescribe it to patients? That's a question that we need to ask as we head into the election season. Opiates are drugs that act on the nervous system to relieve pain. They are derived from the opium poppy plant and include drugs such as morphine, codeine, and heroin. Opioids are a type of drug that is used to treat moderate to severe pain. These drugs work by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord. Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a chronic relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences.

People with OUD have an intense urge to use opioids, even when they know it will harm them. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for OUD, but effective treatments are available. Medications, such as methadone and buprenorphine, can be used to manage withdrawal symptoms and craving. These medications are called opioids agonist therapy or maintenance therapy. Behavioral therapies, such as contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapy, can also be helpful in treating OUD. These therapies can help people with OUD change their behavior and thoughts around drug use. The most effective treatments for OUD are a combination of medication and behavioral therapy. Opioid agonist therapy is the gold standard of care for OUD. This type of treatment has been shown to be more effective than either medication or behavioral therapy alone. Let's take a look at some new tools on the horizon. Psychedelics are a class of drugs that have been used for centuries in religious and spiritual ceremonies. Psychedelics can induce altered states of consciousness, which can be accompanied by changes in perception, mood, and thought. Recent research has shown that psychedelics may be effective in treating a variety of mental health conditions, including OUD. A small study published in 2016 found that a single dose of psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms, was effective in reducing cravings and anxiety in people with OUD. So larger-scale clinical trials are needed to confirm the efficacy of psychedelics in treating OUD. However, the results of this small study suggest that psychedelics may be a promising new treatment for OUD. 18-MC is a derivative of the Iboga Root, which grows in Africa. 18-MC is an addiction interrupter. When people take the proper amount of Iboga Root, they are instantly no longer physically addicted to opiates. However, there are some problems with this treatment. First, it is illegal in the US. Second, the drug can cause people to have intense hallucinations for three days, and it is not usually a happy trip. People who take Iboga Root usually go inward to address their demons, rather than outward into the universe. Despite its drawbacks, 18-MC shows promise as a treatment for OUD. The fact that it can instantly break the physical addiction to opioids is a major advantage over other treatments. If larger-scale clinical trials confirm the efficacy of 18-MC in treating OUD, it could be a major breakthrough in the treatment of this devastating disease.

The opioid epidemic is a complex issue with many contributing factors. However, I believe that corporations are largely to blame for the current crisis. Drug companies and physicians have been receiving a lot of blame for the current opioid epidemic and both should share in that responsibility. Sure the pharmaceutical companies have lied and deceived doctors into prescribing opioids for chronic pain, but these are not ignorant people, in my opinion within the first few years they knew how addictive they were and why. As a result, millions of Americans are addicted to opioids. This needs to stop! We need to hold these corporations accountable for their role in creating this epidemic. Only then can we hope to address and solve this crisis. The system is not working, we all know it. Pharmaceutical companies are getting richer and people are dying. We have to do something about it. I urge you to stand up for what is right and fight for the people that can't fight for themselves. Join me in this fight, it's time to take a stand. So I hope my story can help you in some way. This is a problem that effects all of us, not just those who have taken opioids and become addicted. We need to band together to take on these Pharmaceutical companies and get the money we deserve for what they have done to us. The State has done a good job in that respect. Please share this article with your friends and family, and if you have been affected by this epidemic, please reach out for help. You are not alone. Join me in taking a stand against Purdue Pharma and the other Pharmaceutical companies responsible for this crisis. Together, we can make them pay for their actions.

I have spoken to so many people about this and it seems that everyone knows someone who has been hurt by these drugs, yet Purdue and the other companies are getting off with a slap on the wrist. It is time for us to speak up and demand better representation for those injured by these drugs. We need to band together as a group and stand up for what is right. Join me in speaking out against Purdue Pharma, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and the other Pharmaceutical companies who put profits over people. Have you been affected by the opioid crisis? Share your story in the comments below. #intolerantlefty #intolerantlefty.com