[bpaddock]

There are no statistics that show properly prescribed and taken opioids have anything to do with the crisis. The crisis comes from illegal usage and tainted substances. Sadly this is not clear from the statistics without digging into them, and few do.

That prescription opioids are significantly reduced, yet the death rate continues to climb indicates the focus on the current solution is in the wrong place.

No one, including me, denies "pill selling" is a problem. However that has zero to do with the people with Chronic Pain that are doing everything within the law.

There are bad doctors, and other bad actors, they need dealt with of course. Not at the expense that need such medication.

[turtlesdown11]

>That prescription opioids are significantly reduced, yet the death rate continues to climb indicates the focus on the current solution is in the wrong place.

False. There has only been a minor reduction in sales. https://www.fda.gov/media/111695/download

Also, it just means those easy pain pill scripts are drying up, and people are turning to black market alternatives. It's cheaper and easier to import fentanyl from PRC and press it. Also leads to dosing errors (overwhelming cause of deaths).

[shkkmo]

> The crisis comes from illegal usage and tainted substances. Sadly this is not clear from the statistics without digging into them, and few do.

The crisis was directly contributed by over-prescription ande the deliberate minimization of addiction risks. The crisis was exacerbated by then pushing these people off their legal prescription once they become addicted, forcing them into the black market.

> That prescription opioids are significantly reduced, yet the death rate continues to climb indicates the focus on the current solution is in the wrong place.

When you push more people into the black market, it is reasonable to expect that over-doses will rise.

> There are bad doctors, and other bad actors, they need dealt with of course. Not at the expense that need such medication

Yes, I agree. We are much better served by educating about and being aware of addiction risks than we are by limiting access to prescription medication because we are concerned a person is already addicted.