#158: RERUN - The Road to Hell is Paved with Percocet

Sponsored by: New Leaf Hyperbaric and Wellness Oxygen Therapy

In this reaired episode, Tim and May delve into the alarming history of one of the greatest blunders in the realm of medicine: the widespread overprescribing of opioids. The catastrophic journey began with a seemingly innocuous five-sentence letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine back in 1980. Little did anyone know that this brief letter would be cited a staggering 608 times in medical literature, wrongly advocating for the safety of opiate prescription.

The hosts meticulously trace the evolution of opioids, exploring both their historical context and the gradual normalization of their medical use. A critical turning point was the misinterpretation of data, which triggered a cascade of detrimental consequences. The medical establishment, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory bodies fell victim to groupthink, unknowingly perpetuating a series of major falsehoods:

• The Illusion of Progress: The erroneous belief that modern times could manage opioid usage more effectively than a century ago.

• The Medicalization Fallacy: The false sense of security created by medicalizing opioid usage, leading to the misconception that their use was inherently safe.

• The Solution Misconception: The assumption that finding a medical solution was imperative for addressing both acute and chronic pain, thus justifying widespread opioid prescription.

As Tim and May navigate this sobering narrative, they share a lighter side as well, chuckling at past and recent advertisements that promoted these harmful substances. From the days of "mother's little helper" cough syrup to the more recent tagline "One to start with and one to stay with" for OxyContin, the absurdity of these marketing campaigns is evident. The duo also highlight the ironic concept of "pain as the fifth vital sign," revealing how the opiate journey unfolded and contributed to this unsettling notion.

Through their engaging discussion, Tim and May paint a vivid picture of how a series of miscalculations, misinformation, and misguided beliefs led to the opioid crisis, resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives. This reaired episode serves as a reminder of the imperative role critical thinking and a thorough understanding of historical context play in shaping medical practices and policies.

Our Advice!

Everything in this podcast is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine and we are not providing medical advice. No Physician-patient relationship is formed and anything discussed in this podcast does not represent the views of our employers. 

The Fine Print!

All opinions expressed by the hosts or  guests in this episode are solely their opinion and are not to be used as specific medical advice.  The hosts,  May and Tim Hindmarsh MD, BS Free MD LLC, or any affiliates thereof are not under any obligation to update or correct any information provided in this episode. The guest's statements and opinions are subject to change without notice.

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