How will Trump's War on Opioid Abuse Affect Non-abusers in Pain?

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

Specializes in ER.

Trump: Opioid 'national shame' a public health emergency - BBC News

I read this article today, and on paper it makes sense and is needed. I also notice some other provisions that are positive es, like the expansion of telemedicine.

My fear is, the many people that aren't prone to addiction will be denied pain relief. It seems that the government goes from one extreme to another. 20 years ago they were pushing us to relieve pain, and chastising healthcare workers from even using the word addiction. Now they are seeing addiction under every rock.

I guess we'll have to wait and see, but I am cynical.

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Don't worry, he has the attention span of a 3 year old. He forgot his plans already

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Atl-Murse said:
Don't worry, he has the attention span of a 3 year old. He forgot his plans already

I think you are being generous. I personally think this is his way to continue the militarization of police, to fight the "drug war"

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So far, his campaign appears to consist of a recycling of Nancy Reagan's "Just say no" campaign, which accomplished nothing.

In any case, lots of people with chronic pain, whether or not they're "prone to addiction," would benefit from a better informed and well-rounded approach to pain management than their PCP simply continuing to write rxs for opioids. Opioids come with all kinds of problems besides dependence, like hyperalgesia.

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Emergent said:

I read this article today, and on paper it makes sense and is needed. I also notice some other provisions that are positive es, like the expansion of telemedicine.

My fear is, the many people that aren't prone to addiction will be denied pain relief. It seems that the government goes from one extreme to another. 20 years ago they were pushing us to relieve pain, and chastising healthcare workers from even using the word addiction. Now they are seeing addiction under every rock.

I guess we'll have to wait and see, but I am cynical.

I started to see the turn back towards making it hard to get pain meds before Trump came in to office. It seems to be a cycle in my opinion. We all agree it needs to be addressed but again not at the expense of those truly in pain. We made so many strides in pain control, but we also ended up being too liberal with pain meds. Although I don't think a just say no type of campaign is enough, it is important to make the public aware that just because its prescribed doesn't mean its ok to be abused. That you still have an addiction even if you have a prescription.

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

They'll continue what they're doing now which is turning to kratom and CBD oil.

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As somebody else mentioned, there is already a trend in reducing narcotics n ERs. And you are right to be concerned that new regulations can cause suffering. For example, there are new laws governing maximum daily doses of morphine. This makes no sense due to to tolerance issues and individual response. 150 mg MS daily for Fibromyalgia is probably a poor choice, but might well be indicated for a long term cancer survivor.

As far as how this new "emergency" status will effect things?

Well, as of right now, I think the available funding is $57,000., which might be a bit low, but should cover rehab for at least one addict.

And our leader is emphasizing "really tough, really big, really great advertising". Maybe we can revive Nancy Regan's "just say no" campaign.

I am quite sure that given his experience as a businessman, Trump will put the best guy in in charge of this effort to fight drugs. A guy who supports the DEA, and is not beholden to pharmaceutical companies in any way. A guy like Tom Marino.

Actually, Marino is out.

I am sure Trump will come up a drug czar with the same passion for fighting drug abuse as the head of the DEA has for protecting the environment.

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Specializes in ER.

A $57 000 budget? Well darn, expand that program to the next room!

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
canoehead said:
A $57 000 budget? Well darn, expand that program to the next room!

They can buy a bunch of pens with "Just Say No" logo

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

IMHO, it already has.

It's being splashed across every news line.

It does drive me a bit batty when news people forewarn the public over and over about the heroine and fentanl concoction killing many but show clips of pills...lest I knew, neither came in a pill form but hey I don't spend my days researching everything about heroine and fentanyl. I do think however that the news people should do a few minutes of research on these drugs before they spout out a bunch of doomsday "education"..

Do they do the same when debating about politics...I guess so!

My even bigger frustration though happens to be about the lack of mental health funding and resources, because let's face it, we really will continue to spin our wheels on this until we do.

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AJJKRN said:
IMHO, it already has.

It's being splashed across every news line.

It does drive me a bit batty when news people forewarn the public over and over about the heroine and fentanl concoction killing many but show clips of pills...lest I knew, neither came in a pill form but hey I don't spend my days researching everything about heroine and fentanyl. I do think however that the news people should do a few minutes of research on these drugs before they spout out a bunch of doomsday "education"..

Do they do the same when debating about politics...I guess so!

My even bigger frustration though happens to be about the lack of mental health funding and resources, because let's face it, we really will continue to spin our wheels on this until we do.

Most health experts agree that the new proposals from this administration will reduce funding for mental health.

But, we will fund a GREAT ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN that should help bigly.

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klone said:
They can buy a bunch of pens with "Just Say No" logo

From a company that has ties to Trump. :rolleyes:

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