Quote:
Originally Posted by Brush Okie
I am sure it is a problem.
Addiction is genetic ie you have the gene or you don't. So now we have these kids getting hit and needing pain meds that have that gene. Now they are an addict. Worse yet, many of them have chronic pain and truly need the pain meds but due to their genes they can not just take what they need many times. So how do you treat an addict with legit need for narcotics. 
This is not new. The aftermath of the civil war was opium and morphine addiction from a lot of wounded soldiers.
Here is the thing where I don't get. There is a big leap from pain meds and narcs to heroin in my mind. That is the part I have reservations about ie the vets blaming heroin addiction on the military service. I have dealt with addicts both street drugs and prescription pain killers type for years in the medical field and corrections. I think a number of vets will just become addicts no matter what. A percent of vets wind up in jail for sex crimes as well but that is not the military that did that to them it is just something they do. Any number of a large group will turn out to be dirt bags. |
I agree on the Heroin angle...it is the 'legal' addictions I think are the issue. The prescribed pain meds are addicting as hell for some.
Some Doc's go overboard with that avenue.