Orthopaedic Resident/Intern - Canada

I read his work on chronic blower back pain and he’s probably right with the focus and the mandate of the group. However, the costs annually for alcohol alone is 500 billion in the US in health costs. 60-70% of people between 20-50 are dying (a horrible dehumanizing death) due to opiates. So we need a ton of comprehensive research into the area before we can make recommendations. Right now it is a crisis.

Orthopaedic Resident/Intern - Canada

That’s the stats in Ohio which is in the worst situation. However data is showing other states with exponential rises in opiate use. There’s also major concern of adding such substances to illicit/street marijuana. A deceptive tactic in an attempt to thwart regulatory efforts. We are in a dilemma analogous to the prohibition but with substances that can are more covert, sinister, and physiologically tortuous to stop for many.