Its time to present some 'first wave' charts, but NOT those doctored by 'PROPdocs' such as @SteveGelfand using nothing but volumes and OD to make a case.
Damn right there was more prescribing since 1999!
Those rx 'increases' had NEW destinations.
Tens of millions of them!
Damn right there was more prescribing since 1999!
Those rx 'increases' had NEW destinations.
Tens of millions of them!
Lets start with surgery increases.
Medical technology was not standing still. Last 20 years an EXPLOSIVE growth!
Here's survivors of hip transplants....overwhelmingly elderly...
That's worth several million opioids...
Medical technology was not standing still. Last 20 years an EXPLOSIVE growth!
Here's survivors of hip transplants....overwhelmingly elderly...
That's worth several million opioids...
...and technology enabled even more surgery that wasn't possible before 1999.
Here, we have spine surgeries....yep. a few million more opioids...and yep, mostly elderly.
Here, we have spine surgeries....yep. a few million more opioids...and yep, mostly elderly.
"Between the years 1998 and 2011, the number of spinal fusion procedures has more than doubled, from 204,000 in 1998 to 457,000 in 2011. This is a 14-year increase of 113%."
That represents millions that had a dire need for opioid pain care!
boneandjointburden.org/2014-report/ii…
That represents millions that had a dire need for opioid pain care!
boneandjointburden.org/2014-report/ii…
Now, add to that the number of FAILURES, and additional procedures needed...that's a LOT of ongoing pain!
"During the same time period, refusion rates increased by 171%, from 6 to 14 persons per 100,000."
"During the same time period, refusion rates increased by 171%, from 6 to 14 persons per 100,000."
The demographic for these surgeries slanted toward elderly...
"Between 1998 and 2011, the average age of patients operated on with a fusion procedure has increased from 49 years to just under 56 years."
"Between 1998 and 2011, the average age of patients operated on with a fusion procedure has increased from 49 years to just under 56 years."
EVEN MORE surgeries...
...knee replacements...note these charts all correspond proportionally to those 'overprescribing' charts.
And as with spines, and hips, these knees are predominately ELDERLY!
And, with a similiar number of complications and failures.
More millions...
...knee replacements...note these charts all correspond proportionally to those 'overprescribing' charts.
And as with spines, and hips, these knees are predominately ELDERLY!
And, with a similiar number of complications and failures.
More millions...
Another recently touted stat is the success of cancer treatments. This means more SURVIVORS.
"There were more than 16.9 million Americans with a history of cancer on Jan. 1, 2019...
...Nearly two-thirds (64%) are aged 65 years or older."
sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/…
"There were more than 16.9 million Americans with a history of cancer on Jan. 1, 2019...
...Nearly two-thirds (64%) are aged 65 years or older."
sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/…
Cancer treatment is NO PICNIC.
Many need care the remainder of their lives.
That includes pain care!
"Many survivors cope with long-term physical effects of treatment as well as psychological and socioeconomic sequelae."
More on post-treatment pain...
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…
Many need care the remainder of their lives.
That includes pain care!
"Many survivors cope with long-term physical effects of treatment as well as psychological and socioeconomic sequelae."
More on post-treatment pain...
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…
We're getting into millions of survivors now, all predominately elderly, and there's another chunk to pitch in there.
For this same time period, 1998 and onwards, this stat increased from ZERO to 1.2 million. These folks have pain too. A LOT of it.
For this same time period, 1998 and onwards, this stat increased from ZERO to 1.2 million. These folks have pain too. A LOT of it.
The above thread includes references, and my personal experiences with HIV, using PRN low-dose opioid to control pain and inflammation.
Most medical benefits noted above NOT SPECIFIC to HIV!
Full-agonist particulary effective for gut inflammatory disorders.
Most medical benefits noted above NOT SPECIFIC to HIV!
Full-agonist particulary effective for gut inflammatory disorders.
Numbers game time!
Approx. 20 million were saved from death with HIV med Efavirenz, whose side effects make oxycodone look like baby aspirin.
A period of 10 years survival is 80 Billion doses. Add the other drugs needed for a 'cocktail'..
240,000,000,000 pills.
Approx. 20 million were saved from death with HIV med Efavirenz, whose side effects make oxycodone look like baby aspirin.
A period of 10 years survival is 80 Billion doses. Add the other drugs needed for a 'cocktail'..
240,000,000,000 pills.
With that in mind, subdividing those WAPO DEA database numbers, subtract the ones diverted to those three distributors DEA repeatedly ratted out...
...and ADD the increased demand noted above...
...sounds more REASONABLE, eh?
...and ADD the increased demand noted above...
...sounds more REASONABLE, eh?
But WAIT! What about those pill mills, didn't they create NEW addictions?
People forget easily what else was driving demand at 'pill mills'.
Two things to fear -
Infectious disease - OxyContin could be crushed, snorted for a good high.
CHINA WHITE - Fentanyl spiked heroin.
People forget easily what else was driving demand at 'pill mills'.
Two things to fear -
Infectious disease - OxyContin could be crushed, snorted for a good high.
CHINA WHITE - Fentanyl spiked heroin.
Yes I said FENTANYL. It didn't just 'appear' in time to ruin @supportPROP progress in saving us all from addiction!
It was here before Purdue, and here when Oxy was reformulated in 2012 making it worthless to drug users.
But Fentanyl was not alone, plenty of heroin too.
It was here before Purdue, and here when Oxy was reformulated in 2012 making it worthless to drug users.
But Fentanyl was not alone, plenty of heroin too.
That last chart represents poppy production used in heroin manufacture.
After DROP in 2001 (Taliban banned production), it returned and quadrupled.
With defense, support, transport.
Courtesy of U.S. Military.
We RESTORED and QUADRUPLED heroin output!
There's your FIRST WAVE!
After DROP in 2001 (Taliban banned production), it returned and quadrupled.
With defense, support, transport.
Courtesy of U.S. Military.
We RESTORED and QUADRUPLED heroin output!
There's your FIRST WAVE!
Back to the 'pill mills' and excessive opioid diversions. It was not a secret to DEA or Congress.
DEA repeatedly warned Congress, and implored them to DENY the shipment authorization.
Congress ignored DEA. With pockets full of Pharma $$.
cbsnews.com/amp/news/60-mi…
DEA repeatedly warned Congress, and implored them to DENY the shipment authorization.
Congress ignored DEA. With pockets full of Pharma $$.
cbsnews.com/amp/news/60-mi…
Two last charts.
Keep in mind, opioid rx at 20-year LOW (yet surgeries, cancer tx didn't stop, survivors still here)...
..and OD death at all-time HIGH..
Who gets the rx? Elderly and disabled.
Who's dying? Young peeps with no history of rx.
THEN, Who's lying?
PROP.
Keep in mind, opioid rx at 20-year LOW (yet surgeries, cancer tx didn't stop, survivors still here)...
..and OD death at all-time HIGH..
Who gets the rx? Elderly and disabled.
Who's dying? Young peeps with no history of rx.
THEN, Who's lying?
PROP.
