Oxy Moronic

The damage done by Oxycontin and the Sacklers is (rightfully) one of the most covered stories in America (articles, books, documentaries, movies, series). But there is another side of the story that gets less coverage: The patients who were actually being helped by these drugs and who now find themselves in dire circumstances. “They are among the countless people with chronic pain who have been the unintended victims of the national crackdown on opioid prescribing. In response to the deadly opioid crisis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines intended to limit opioid prescriptions. That advice soon became enshrined in state laws across the country. Suddenly, many pain patients lost the drugs that made their lives bearable. Some sought relief in suicide.” An NYT (free) video: The Opioid Crisis is a Tragedy. But Our Response Caused a Second One.