When it comes to the consumption of opioids, the United States has the unfortunate honor of leading the world. For every million Americans, almost 50,000 doses of opioids are taken every day. That’s four times the rate in the UK, according to Owen Amos of the BBC.
Among the largest consumer countries, the three largest are the United States, Canada and Germany, in that order.
Although the article admits that there are always good reasons to consume opioids, such as relieving the pain of cancer patients or those patients who are recovering from surgeries.
But take many (opioids) and you will have problems, and America, definitely has problems.
And why does America have a problem with opioids? Asked the author who answers, because American doctors prescribe a lot of them!
Contrary to most European countries, the United States does not have universal health insurance paid by taxes. Instead, Americans are required to pay for their own health insurance, usually through their employer or the government.
The article cites Professor Judith Feinberg, of the School of Medicine at the University of West Virginia, saying “that most insurance, especially that of the poor does not pay for anything other than pills.”
Suppose you have a 45-year-old patient with back pain. After examining him you conclude that he has a muscle spasm. The best treatment is physical therapy, but nobody is going to pay for it, so the doctors prescribe a pill. Even if the insurance covers physiotherapy, you probably need prior authorization (from the insurer), which involves a lot of time and paperwork.”
After reading the article, we see that the author blames the problem we have on the doctor first, followed by the insurance companies or the way in which the country lacks a universal insurance that covers all its citizens, but leaves out of responsibility the individual who uses the drug.
They are killing themselves daily with either injections or pills that they do not need at all to cure or alleviate their ills, but to please their addiction. On the other hand, we sympathize with patients who for one reason or another are forced to use painkillers for their health problems.
This is why we cannot blame doctors or insurance companies or the government. The only culprit is the one who uses the drug, demonstrating a lack of security, control and strength of character. He is like the one who cannot stop smoking, even though he knows that he is committing suicide slowly, and with him or her, the entire family.
Recently, we heard on the radio someone saying that the problem of opioids is so severe, that First Responders, call them emergency teams, firefighters, ambulance staff and/or police cannot keep up with the demand applying Narcan to those with overdoses, so they are suggesting that citizens should cooperate, carrying an atomizer of Narcan so they will be able to help someone who needs it.
In its edition of July 17, 2017, the local newspaper reported a case of overdose in a house located at 194 Garden Street in Lawrence where three people were involved and two of them died. A response team to hazardous materials was called and there was no certainty as to what kind of drugs they had used. One thing known is that the man-made opiates fentanyl and carfentanil can be toxic to people who are simply in the presence of the drugs.
We don’t need to say more! Who would think that an ordinary citizen, without knowledge and/or training, can determine who needs a Narcan treatment, while in doing so is putting his own life at risk?
