Papa’s trying to calm me down about this article but that’s not an easy task.
Okay, a not-so-sweet link #2 for today and then the sweet one tomorrow. Remember, I said there would be three.
I am putting in this second link because many of us have had no idea how opioids (pain killers that act on the nervous system) have spread across our USA over the last decades and are now at an epidemic level. Young people are stressed about how our world is under siege in so many places, stressed about school, stressed about fitting in, stressed about their futures, and where do they turn: opioids, which kill the pain. For awhile. Workers in rural towns have jobs that create stress and pain and what do they take: pain killers. And unfortunately, babies are affected by parents who are taking these terrible drugs.
You don’t have to read this article, but mama wants it in so and it’s in. There will not be many others like this, as, frankly, I like to write about positive things and situations that make us laugh, at our disturbing world and at ourselves especially! But this one I could not overlook when mamma read me the facts, and these ARE facts.
You can confirm them with any hospital where you live, any doctor. Look on the graphs at the areas of the US where these drugs are concentrated. Appalling and dangerous.
So, until tomorrow’s joyful video, bear with me about this increasing problem. It should not be swept under the carpet and ignored and the more information we have, the better we might be able to confront and confound this growing addiction in so many.
I’m kind of depressed about all this, so I’ve changed my mind about the joyful video. Here it is.
A lot of the addiction was caused by prescribing when it was needed and people who still needed it were cut off because of things like lost jobs or insurance. So they were still in real pain and had no other recourse but to turn to street versions. This addiction is hitting people of all ages and classes, not just the young people who are stressed out, but people who haven’t been given any other recourse or training on how to manage their very real pain. Don’t be so hard on the victims. This is such a bad drug because you become very addicted so quickly and so physically and it can happen to anyone.
It can happen to hard working people who get injured and need it for pain. It can happen to people with diseases or injuries who have chronic pain. It could be you or someone in your family so easily and quickly. In fact it has hit virtually every family in the US. More natural ways of relieving pain need to be taught in the first place and more easily available treatment programs need to be available for those who need it.
You are absolutely right about programs that educate us about pain management. I am not hard on anyone. I simply put in the link with its facts on demografics of opoide use. Pain to anyone is very real but many of the users also just like the effects and do not realize that addiction comes very quickly. Pain can be physical and mental, as any Viet Nam veteran can tell you. But the epidemic in our country is beyond normal consumption.
What a scary article!!!!! Mama has a couple of friends in the US whose children’s lives are ruined – and will not live to a ripe old age outside of a MIRACLE because of this horrible epidemic. When mama was living there, crack cocaine was the thing, creating violent crime and a couple of generations of ‘crack babies”. A horrible thing with many lives ruined and ended too soon. Evidently the opioid crisis has spread like wildfire on a much larger scale and the results are horrific. There needs to be a MAJOR government-funded program to help combat this and promote awareness. “Just say NO” ain’t gonna work. This article should be mandatory reading for everyone. Merci, Loulou!!
Well, I didn’t like to bring such horrendous news, but I feel bad if I don’t. Have a lovely extra hour today!!! But beware the day getting dark at four o’clock! I like Spring Forward, not Fall Back, myself.
Yes LouLou opiods and many other drugs are bein’ used by peeps who don’t need them. They like all others who do things they shouldn’t make it hard on those who rely on these drugs to have a mode-come of a life. Without pain killers, mommy would most likely have succumbed to the pain and left this world. Like most things, only the bad is publicized. And one reason fur dat is cuz da bad is sooooo bad it makes headlines just like these idiots shootin’ up everythin’. Anyways, luv da foto of you and your papa. Bet’ch’a he’s just what da doctor ordered. Big hugs fur all.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
Pain killers for real pain and to manage a life and two kitties are absolutely reasonable. It’s the misuse that is worrisome!
they are addressing the opiod crisis big time in the U.S., it is frightening how many people it is affecting. I always have a prescription for a stronger painkiller in the event I have a kidney stone attack and my Urologist laughs at me because I always throw them out at the expiration date, virtually unused. Two months ago I had a kidney stone stuck for two and a half weeks, the pain was unreal. I only took 2 of the strong pain pills over that time, the rest of the time I took over-the-counter meds. Thankfully I do not like how the strong pain meds make me feel. My tolerance for pain is super high due to the stones, thank goodness.
Well, damn, Caren, I wish those doctors could ZAP those stones and blow them out of the water, so to speak. Isn’t there anything one can do? Mama had only 1 tiny one years ago and yes, the pain is really indescribable. So sorry for your troubles. Love from us. Mama is going to do some research into this….
Been aware of the drug problems. Getting worse all the time. 🙁
Thanks for the video of the Samoans. Don’t understand a word they say, except “Amen” but the song is What A Friend We Have In Jesus. And it was neat to watch them come marching down the mountain singing merrily and ending their day on a positive note. Bet they went home to their families still smiling. And smiling is contagious. 🙂
Oh, mama, too, love the Samoans and didn’t understand a word but yes, she sang the song in church when a little girl. Loved their energy!!!
Oh LouLou – Ohio is one of the worst states for this crisis. Several attorneys-general have filed lawsuits against the pharmaceutical companies, who (allegedly) pushed doctors to prescribe these painkillers while downplaying the risk of addiction.
The last video is indeed a beautiful one !
SO glad the Samoans were appreciated. We need more positive things in this blog!!!