How Big Pharma Hooked America on Legal Heroin
In a society where direct-to-consumer marketing of many pharmaceuticals is legal, where pharmaceutical companies are legally allowed to entice physicians with all manner of incentives and perks, and where we elevate the power of drugs to near-mythic levels, it’s no surprise that drug companies are able to write their own narrative on sickness, cures, and risk. And we believe them, on some level, just like an entire generation believed that a powerful opioid medication wasn’t addictive or easily abused. We believe them until we reach the end of an era, until the data and stories and robberies pile up so high that we can’t ignore the fact that we were duped. As a generation of Oxy addicts suffers, as Purdue continues to make billions a year in sales of the drug, and cheaper versions are bound for pharmacies next year, what have the rest of us learned? When the next miracle pill comes along, with all its easy promises and assurances, how low will the highs go?
This is a long article. The writer really needs to condense it – and the site probably needs editors to ride herd on their writers. Which of course means money.
I wasn’t familiar with the Motherboard site, but based on this article I became a member.
Preach it brother! Amen!
Oh, what is Motherboard and how do I access this article? Thanks so much.
Uhmmm, durrr, I just saw the button at the top. (Chalk that one up as a usablity test for people with drool bibs–me.)