I mean, from the perspective of the prescription opioid market though, he does have a point. We enabled pfizer and others to market opioids for things other than EoL care direct to consumers. That absolutely falls under supplier induced demand.
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Replying to @hedgeberg @alt_kia
Also "pain is the fifth vital sign" was one of the worst pieces of marketing propaganda for an addictive substance imaginable
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Replying to @hedgeberg @alt_kia
That being said I doubt anyone has any intent to "reduce supply" by shutting down prescription opioid suppliers thanks to lobbyists, so point is moot.
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Replying to @hedgeberg
they absolutely have, plenty of people with legit chronic pain are finding it much harder to get prescriptions for opioid medications that they've been on safely for a while
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Replying to @alt_kia
So, there's an issue there, which is that opioids are not a good solution for long-term chronic pain treatment. They lose efficacy as they build addiction. Opioids were introduced purely for end-of-life treatment or pain which is untreatable by any other means.
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Replying to @hedgeberg @alt_kia
this is not true. we do not have evidence that opioids are not a good solution for long-term chronic pain treatment because we have never properly studied it.
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all that we do know is that there is a limited evidence of dose-dependent risk of adverse effects. e.g. see https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25581257 (2015)
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Replying to @whitequark @alt_kia
Interesting, but definitely does not jive with what I've heard from other folks who are medical professionals. I'll need to review, appreciate the reference. Worth noting that I am not a medical professional, so if you have more information than I do then I can't really argue.
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Replying to @hedgeberg @alt_kia
unfortunately, bias and ignorance in medical professionals is widespread. to give you an example you are probably familiar with, consider trans healthcare in the US. opioids aren't a cure-all, but they are safe and effective when used appropriately, including for long-term pain.
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Replying to @whitequark @hedgeberg
("used appropriately" includes "not using with alcohol or benzodiazepines", and the overwhelming majority of "opioid deaths" in US involved benzos and/or EtOH as well)
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