Letters to the Editor: 11-18-16

Pill problem solutions are out there

Thank you for exploring the societal problems of opioid addiction and deaths. Many people suffer from severe pain and are desperate for relief. Reliance on opioids can be very effective for short-term relief (e.g., for broken bones or dental pain) but can lead to dependence on escalating doses if used for long-term pain control (e.g., for arthritis or neuropathic pain).

The pharmaceutical industry has responded by creating pills with much stronger doses. For example, the largest Oxycontin (time-released oxycodone) is equal to 16 tablets of regular oxycodone. One tablet has the potential to kill if taken with alcohol or with any other sedatives. And as we now know, accidental overdoses now cause more fatalities than do motor vehicle accidents!

Two partial solutions seem obvious. The largest (deadliest) pills should be banned. Big pharma will fight with millions of dollars, but shame on them because there is no reason whatsoever to allow the deaths to continue. Those people needing larger doses can simply take more of the smaller (safer) pills.

Secondly, we physicians need to more fully utilize alternative treatments. Acupuncture, physical therapy, massage, chiropracty, yoga, naturopathy, and herbal therapies are all extremely safe and relatively effective for treating pain. For example, states that have had medical cannabis for five or more years have 33 percent fewer deaths from opioid overdoses than do states who prohibit medical cannabis. I frequently see chronic pain patients who have weaned themselves completely off large doses of opioids simply by substituting cannabis for pain and for sleep. And remember, cannabis is safer than Tylenol or ibuprofen.

Yes, the system is rigged by big money, but we the people can still stand up for what is right. It is always right to relieve suffering and to save lives.

Charlie Webb, MD

Kailua-Kona