Speaking to a few people in the biz over the last week or so, the talk quickly turned to all of the coverage the Painkiller Epidemic was suddenly receiving from the media. The “death bounce” initiated by Michael Jackson’s passing was in mid-arc. In particular, Joshua Lyon, author of the recently published Pill Head: The Secret Life of a Painkiller Addict told me via e-mail that [media] outlets that originally had no interest in speaking with him were now banging down his door.
But as with Heath Ledger, and many before him, almost before it began… it seems to be ending. I’m still not sold on the drug-death-connection with M.J. anyway, but that is not the point. At least it’s not my point.
My point is that the Painkiller Epidemic is not a “Celeb Thing”. It’s not about movie stars and pop gods. It’s about millions of everyday people, pinching from Mom’s medicine cabinet, being turned on by friends, or becoming dependent after surgeries—and then finding themselves suddenly addicted. Addicted and alone.
It’s about how we suck at identifying these people, and it’s about how we suck even worse at helping them.
Note to the “Media”: This story is not over.
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* In this context, “the biz” being those few of us writing and speaking on opiate, opioid, and painkiller addiction issues.
Tags: addict, addicted, Michael Jackson, opiate, Painkiller Epidemic
July 12, 2009 at 1:57 am |
[...] : Dead Cat Bounce [...]
July 12, 2009 at 10:46 am |
Why the fuck am I obligated to help anyone, let alone a pill addict?
The government takes over 40% of my money – let the same weaklings and retards that want the government to run healthcare get their help from geniuses like Barney Frank, John Kerry, Chakka Fattah, John McCain , etc.
If I still had discretionary income for charity I would consider giving money to help, but I don’t and the government has taken over that role anyway (well outside their constitutional scope of power, I should add).
Heath care is not a right. My help is not your choice. Weakness and stupid personal decisions should and do have consequences. Turn to your faith, to your church, your friends & family. Just leave me the fuck alone and out of it or I may have to pop my own pills to cope with your inability to be a fucking adult.
July 16, 2009 at 2:28 pm |
not all people take pain meds just to get high, but our shit ass government should make the the doctors who just write scripts to make a fast buck step up and help people get off of opiates, the meds they have to help you get off them like suboxon is like dollars a pill at the pharmacy,,your crying about helping out people you see everyday maybe one that watch your kids or make your food you dont say a word about a war that is breaking our country, most people can’t turn to there church for many reasons some faith’s won’t help at all but most church’s just want your money….but calling people weak and stupid just shows what kind person your parents raised or didn’t raise so please do us all a favor take your phone cord wrap it around your fucking neck and run for hills..
July 19, 2009 at 11:30 pm
I will let slide your inability to spell, puncutate, and write, but cannot ignore the fact that you take me to task for a perceived lack of compassion by suggesting I kill myself.
I know your type: only tolerant of those who think and talk and act and dress like you.
You cannot allow anything you disagree with to enter an argument because all you have is you have is your feelings and your thoughts. Now feelings and thoughts are great, everyone has them, but I dont have to give a fuck about them or respect them or allow my money to go to satisfy your need for everyone to agree with you.
My very good liberal education taught me about the theory of evolution. The main point of evolution is Survival of the Fittest; nature favors the strong and kills off or allows to die off the weak, the incapable, the worthless to the overall scheme of things. Nature does thi, not me, not some faceless government, and your feelings and opinions can do nothing to stop it.
Ive dealth with addiction. I know the blog owner personally. I know pain killer addiction intimately. I have seen the strong bring themselves out of it. I have seen the weak drown in it. And I have seen feel-good hand-holding pansies like you make it easier for the weak to continue their own destruction. Coddling a retard doesnt make it any less of a retard, but I guess you were coddled too much yourself.