Opioid Crisis
The solution to an existing problem is always efficient when it is obtained from the root cause of the problem. The Big Pharma is the primary contributor to the opioid crisis and should be the point of concern when addressing the issue. Generally, opioids were not an issue of concern when their primary use was directed towards relieving cancer-related pain and other chronic pains. The rate of addiction from the prescribed opioids was manageable, and patients were limited concerning the amount of prescription at a particular duration. However, Big Pharma decided to exploit an existing gap in the policies associated with opioid regulations. The use of opioids in unlimited prescriptions increased the rate of addiction among the users, thus creating a market for the firm, which later made huge profits. The opioid crisis has grown over the years due to the attempts of Big Pharma to exploit the gap in the opioid regulation policies in a bid to make huge profits.
The introduction of OxyContin, which is a significant opioid, was done following several regulations to avoid its misuse. OxyContin was supposed to be prescribed at certain levels that would not lead to addiction. Purdue Pharma was a major dealer of OxyContin and had reported a low addiction rate of less than one percent of the consumers. The use of Opioids took a twist from being used for cancer-related pains to general use when Big Pharma saw an opportunity in the provision of OxyContin to general practitioners. Big Pharma was strategically situated in a region where the residents were involved in heavy tasks, and the pain was a regular occasion in the area. The practitioners were becoming desperate due to the lack of knowledge concerning the need to relieve pain among the residents. Big Pharma made the opioids more accessible among the residents hence the opioid crisis.
Big Pharma was associated with several instances of using false information. The spread of false information played a crucial role in introducing more people to using opioids. First, the company introduced the idea of pseudoaddiction to divert the attention of users and the relevant authorities from the addiction rate of people. The pseudo addiction claim pushed for people to go for more prescriptions, and eventually, addiction was an issue of concern. Opioids have brought more harm than good to the users: “Opioids are now on pace to kill as many Americans in a decade as HIV/AIDS has since it began,” Macy (n. p). The information explained that it was reasonable to have an increased desire to take more opioids. The desire would then be countered with an additional prescription. Generally, the rate of consumption of opioids increased as well as the addiction among users. Big Pharma was the highest beneficiaries of the opioid crisis taking the course.
Shifts in the patterns of using opioids changed the entire opioid crisis. Originally, Opioids were prescribed for a set period of time, and the amount of prescription was also set. However, shifts occurred, and the prescription patterns changed significantly. The primary purpose of using opioids to relieve post-operative and cancer-related pains was overlooked. Big Pharma initiated a lift on the limits placed on the prescription patterns as well as the removing of the regulations governing the periods beyond which opioids could not be prescribed. The attempts by Big Pharma did not consider the impacts on the users: “The corporation feels no pain,” Macy (n. p). The compromise on the limits subjected users to the risk of dependence, abuse, and addiction, with the dealers enjoying huge profits. Besides, addiction to opioids meant that the dealers had a network of loyal customers who would not quit the use of opioids without a struggle. Moreover, several lawsuits have been put forward against Big Pharma companies showing their involvement in the opioid crisis.
The rise in the number of lawsuits against the use of opioids shows that the original dealers had a central role in the menace. Big Pharma has been involved in most of the lawsuits, most of which end up in compensation for claimants: “Facing a growing number of lawsuits and investigations, Purdue Pharma heaped praise on its American hero and new political star,” Macy (n. p). Big Pharma took advantage of the lack of information among residents to introduce the drugs. Besides, the era within which the opioid crisis began witnessed several contributing factors, and people looking for ways of getting over the pain. First, people realized the impact of opioids to deal with various forms of pain that were growing with the difficulties in the lives that the people were leading. For example, job losses led people to engage in activities that caused them pain and needed ways to deal with the pain. Therefore, people decided to use opioids as a shortcut to avoid experiencing pain. Generally, the lawsuits that have faced Big Pharma companies have been based on the claim that the companies used the lack of information as a gap through which they exploited the wellness of the residents. However, Big Pharma has not remained silent over the opioid crisis and has defended the move to make opioids more accessible.
Ignorance among residents can be assumed to be behind the opioid crisis. Big Pharma has for example made claims that they are not behind the opioid crisis. The primary argument by Big Pharma companies is that the damage caused by opioids could not be foreseen in advance. Besides, the companies claim that the move to change the prescription patterns was an attempt to help residents to overcome pain. Also, the medical practitioners lacked the experience to deal with pain, and opioids were the most immediate solution. Generally, Big Pharma companies have refuted the claim that they are responsible for the infamous opioid crisis. However, the argument by Big Pharma companies is not substantial and cannot be used to justify the damage caused by the opioid crisis. Macy says, “Changing the rules only confuses a young, developing mind” to mean that the ignorance of the people was being used for the benefit of a certain company. People have been struggling with opioid addiction as well as poverty levels due to the expensive nature of opioids: “…only about 10 percent of the addicted population manages to get access to care and treatment,” Macy (n. p). Unfortunately, the lack of resources to cater for the opioids has led victims into using cheaper substances such as heroin, which have further worsened the drug menace. Big Pharma companies cannot blame ignorance for the damages that the society has had to deal with in the wake of the opioid crisis.
In sum, the opioid crisis has grown over the years due to the attempts of Big Pharma to exploit the gap in the opioid regulation policies in a bid to make huge profits. OxyContin was supposed to be prescribed at certain levels that would not lead to addiction. However, Big Pharma has not remained silent over the opioid crisis and has defended the move to make opioids more accessible. The primary argument by Big Pharma companies is that the damage caused by opioids could not be foreseen in advance. However, Big Pharma companies cannot blame ignorance for the damages that the society has had to deal with in the wake of the opioid crisis.
Works Cited
Macy, Beth. Dopesick: Dealers, doctors and the drug company that addicted America. Head of Zeus Ltd, 2018.