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UglyGreed

(7,661 posts)

184. Whistleblowers say military doctors and VA have overprescribed powerful narcotics

Tue Nov 25, 2014, 06:14 AM

Nov 2014

Maybe the VA is the candy store???

The enemy at home: Veterans addicted and dying from VA pain pills

Whistleblowers say military doctors and VA have overprescribed powerful narcotics for more than a decade.

An Eyewitness News investigation shows thousands of US soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines survived the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan only to be ambushed back home by an unexpected enemy. Military records and independent studies obtained by 13 Investigates show many returning veterans received staggering amounts of powerful narcotics to treat their physical and emotional wounds. Veterans and military insiders are now coming forward to expose the Department of Veterans Affairs’ flawed and dangerous pain management program. They insist that program accidentally killed returning servicemen and destroyed thousands of lives.

http://www.wthr.com/story/25336980/2014/04/24/the-enemy-at-home-veterans-addicted-dying-from-va-pain-pills

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Do you think opiate pain medications should be outlawed for noncancer sufferers as in chronic pain? [View all] UglyGreed Nov 2014 OP

Absolutely not. greatlaurel Nov 2014 #1

Thank you for reply UglyGreed Nov 2014 #18

I agree, absolutely. DeadLetterOffice Nov 2014 #42

My wife has had a severe pain at the base of her skull for 79+ years caused by polio in the brain indepat Nov 2014 #63

That is so suck-y. truedelphi Nov 2014 #207

My wife had taken bleeder pain pills until she nearly bled to death about twenty years ago, then indepat Nov 2014 #211

agreed 100%. medical treatment should not be a political decision. nt magical thyme Nov 2014 #117

If you read the article, you see that they're rubberstamping the CDC guidelines Warpy Nov 2014 #178

No I would not ban it for non cancer reasons yeoman6987 Nov 2014 #2

I included that info UglyGreed Nov 2014 #12

There is a critical distinction between experiencing euphoria as a side effect loyalsister Nov 2014 #75

If a doctor ever said that to me, I'd be hard pressed to keep my temper. Liberal Veteran Nov 2014 #79

Me too! loyalsister Nov 2014 #80

They tried that addiction crap with my mom. easychoice Nov 2014 #96

You're right, loyalsister. I've never really experienced the "drug high" folks talk about. catbyte Nov 2014 #157

Big difference between addiction and dependence. reflection Nov 2014 #166

Considering most insurance has a specialist copay that's higher than normal.... moriah Nov 2014 #16

Great points UglyGreed Nov 2014 #34

I don't take pain medicine except very rarely Mojorabbit Nov 2014 #93

You are obviously not someone in chronic pain with limited resourced. Ms. Toad Nov 2014 #200

No (nt) bigwillq Nov 2014 #3

Why would you single out cancer? Nye Bevan Nov 2014 #4

many doctors/people feel that end of life UglyGreed Nov 2014 #5

Those kind of doctors are either paranoid of the DEA or lacking in empathy. Liberal Veteran Nov 2014 #15

AAN Warns Against Opioids in Chronic Noncancer Pain UglyGreed Nov 2014 #38

Even then you see doctors now afraid to prescribe necessary pain meds... DeadLetterOffice Nov 2014 #47

Not post surgical patients? I doubt that many surgeons feel that way. n/t pnwmom Nov 2014 #74

Well when I had two surgeries UglyGreed Nov 2014 #103

absolutely not. Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #6

Goodness no. That would lead to completely avoidable suffering Takket Nov 2014 #7

Absolutely not. Liberal Veteran Nov 2014 #8

As a six time kidney stone patient, fuck no. longship Nov 2014 #9

Does Toradol do you any good? moriah Nov 2014 #11

Never tried it. My last kidney stone attack was summer, 2013. longship Nov 2014 #19

here ya go UglyGreed Nov 2014 #44

Toradol is great, but limited to less than 5 days use due to high risk of GI bleeding. Liberal Veteran Nov 2014 #24

Fortunately kidney stones are usually an acute situation. moriah Nov 2014 #26

Yeah, my experience with toradol was a little over a month ago (kidney stones). Liberal Veteran Nov 2014 #31

To me it was more like being repeatedly stabbed in the kidney with a dull steak knife.. EX500rider Nov 2014 #58

Oral toradol is a very new thing. DeadLetterOffice Nov 2014 #43

Most people I know are heading to the ER in a kidney stone attack. moriah Nov 2014 #78

Just curious, is Toradol an NSAID? catbyte Nov 2014 #86

Yes, a very strong one. Thus the stomach shreadding side effect. DeadLetterOffice Nov 2014 #112

Bummer. I heard it was good for migraines, but I developed an anaphylactic catbyte Nov 2014 #156

Something you might want to check out: blue neen Nov 2014 #205

I've never heard of that. Thanks so much! I'll discuss it with my doctor. catbyte Nov 2014 #212

It's great at making new business for dialysis clinics. nt LeftyMom Nov 2014 #56

u said it MFM008 Nov 2014 #100

Of course not. Your decision to go off of painkillers is one thing. moriah Nov 2014 #10

I said no in my OP UglyGreed Nov 2014 #13

My doctor was using the pain medication UglyGreed Nov 2014 #14

Most people are just like you when they've taken opiates. Mariana Nov 2014 #17

I did worry UglyGreed Nov 2014 #25

Fortunately, opiate withdrawal Mariana Nov 2014 #46

Well my pain is disturbing my UglyGreed Nov 2014 #104

I'm in the same boat with you here... Ghost in the Machine Nov 2014 #151

Thank you for your reply UglyGreed Nov 2014 #174

This message was self-deleted by its author Recursion Nov 2014 #72

Great sentence in your post, and worth repeating: truedelphi Nov 2014 #208

hell no. two words...kidney stones. spanone Nov 2014 #20

Yup! See my posts up thread. longship Nov 2014 #52

exactly. spanone Nov 2014 #61

Wow gollygee Nov 2014 #21

That happens with my UglyGreed Nov 2014 #27

They should be legal for anyone. nt bemildred Nov 2014 #22

They don't really work for me Aerows Nov 2014 #23

I've known too many Seniors get addicted in Florida HockeyMom Nov 2014 #28

So you are for oulawing them for UglyGreed Nov 2014 #30

You know, pecwae Nov 2014 #109

exactly MFM008 Nov 2014 #171

I'm so glad that UglyGreed Nov 2014 #29

fuck no Kali Nov 2014 #32

I changed over from percocet UglyGreed Nov 2014 #35

I've always wondered how many fatal "overdoses" Mariana Nov 2014 #50

I believe the overdoses might be UglyGreed Nov 2014 #105

whether it should be legal or not, drawing the line based on having cancer or not makes no sense. unblock Nov 2014 #33

Huh? So if you have major surgery or are in a car accident, you should not be able to madinmaryland Nov 2014 #36

Please reread my OP and my posts UglyGreed Nov 2014 #39

BTW if you are in a hospital UglyGreed Nov 2014 #41

This is actually correct in some ways Texasgal Nov 2014 #66

Samething happened to my wife, except... madinmaryland Nov 2014 #68

Thank you for reply UglyGreed Nov 2014 #106

Why? ecstatic Nov 2014 #140

Because ERS Texasgal Nov 2014 #162

No, I don't. MoonRiver Nov 2014 #37

Other diseases like Shingles are unbearably painful Wella Nov 2014 #40

My husband didn't even take Tylenol for his Shingles HockeyMom Nov 2014 #116

Your husband was lucky and had a mild case; I know several cases in which the Wella Nov 2014 #198

Guess his Aunt was very lucky too HockeyMom Nov 2014 #199

Yes she was. I've known 3 very bad cases in my own circle Wella Nov 2014 #201

My husband and his Aunt are the only people HockeyMom Nov 2014 #202

Did you read the medical information I posted? Wella Nov 2014 #203

I don't think anyone who is not your Dr should tell you what you can and cannot take or do NightWatcher Nov 2014 #45

My doctor was the one who told us UglyGreed Nov 2014 #48

Been there. My Dr's answer to my pain is to throw more muscle relaxers at me NightWatcher Nov 2014 #49

I know I've seen your UglyGreed Nov 2014 #51

It should be a human right to not feel pain from a disease or any pain causing medical condition. L0oniX Nov 2014 #53

From your lips/finger tips UglyGreed Nov 2014 #54

No - but I do think there should be caution for long term use csziggy Nov 2014 #55

No drug should be outlawed Man from Pickens Nov 2014 #57

I think people should mind their own business. What the DR and the Patient decide should be the onl demtenjeep Nov 2014 #59

No Way! southern_belle Nov 2014 #60

no way williesgirl Nov 2014 #62

No way! Nt riderinthestorm Nov 2014 #64

No, of course not. Blue_In_AK Nov 2014 #65

I had a horrible tooth infection that lasted for a week & used oxycodone for pain relief. U4ikLefty Nov 2014 #67

Dentist receptionist chased me to my car HockeyMom Nov 2014 #113

Anthony Bourdain, Episode 7, Parts Unknown on CNN locks Nov 2014 #69

Why? malokvale77 Nov 2014 #70

Hell no! loyalsister Nov 2014 #71

The US uses more opioids than the rest of the world put together Recursion Nov 2014 #73

But should we allow people to UglyGreed Nov 2014 #107

Perhaps our constant state of war adds to the number of people using pain medication. UglyGreed Nov 2014 #183

Could well be. My Legion post does a lot of work with returning vets Recursion Nov 2014 #185

Don't get me wrong if these men UglyGreed Nov 2014 #196

No. I saw hubby suffer too much pain his last illness madfloridian Nov 2014 #76

Sorry to hear about your UglyGreed Nov 2014 #108

As somebody who is about to undergo major grade knee surgery, no mythology Nov 2014 #77

Of course not Spirochete Nov 2014 #81

No. End the war on drugs. nt ZombieHorde Nov 2014 #82

Not just no but FUCK NO! Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #83

Are you kidding? catbyte Nov 2014 #84

I hear you UglyGreed Nov 2014 #110

Anyone wanting it outlawed have probably never suffered from incurable ongoing severe RKP5637 Nov 2014 #85

Exactly. n/t truedelphi Nov 2014 #206

No. Jamastiene Nov 2014 #87

Absolultely not KMOD Nov 2014 #88

I think government should stay out of medicine. WhiteAndNerdy Nov 2014 #89

No Marrah_G Nov 2014 #90

No. Warren DeMontague Nov 2014 #91

there's all kinds of pain. mine DesertFlower Nov 2014 #92

you've got to be kidding. screw the nanny-state. nt TheFrenchRazor Nov 2014 #94

No LeftishBrit Nov 2014 #95

No. cali Nov 2014 #97

NEED the option MFM008 Nov 2014 #98

I think we should help people in pain get relief from their pain, whatever works for them. eShirl Nov 2014 #99

No JustAnotherGen Nov 2014 #101

NO CountAllVotes Nov 2014 #102

No, there is nothing unique about cancer pain that would indicate this Yo_Mama Nov 2014 #111

Your thread title is a strawman - they are not talking about 'outlawing' them muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #114

So sue me N/T UglyGreed Nov 2014 #115

In #107, you said "the non-opiates ones caused me more harm than good" muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #122

No since I don't think any medication that UglyGreed Nov 2014 #128

There's a war on pain meds because of the deaths and addictions adigal Nov 2014 #132

So I should suffer UglyGreed Nov 2014 #142

There are other drugs when used in combination are just as effective adigal Nov 2014 #150

I've tried eleven other medications UglyGreed Nov 2014 #175

Spoken like someone who has never suffered from chronic pain kcr Nov 2014 #177

Plus my OP was a question for DUers not a UglyGreed Nov 2014 #118

That's a strawman, then muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #119

This message was self-deleted by its author UglyGreed Nov 2014 #130

When doctors refuse to prescribe UglyGreed Nov 2014 #131

+1 Go Vols Nov 2014 #159

Absolutely. Vinca Nov 2014 #120

Not just no, but HELL NO (n/t) Seeking Serenity Nov 2014 #121

Of course not. Iggo Nov 2014 #123

God no. I just had major surgery in Serbia (which only uses opoid medication while the patient is MillennialDem Nov 2014 #124

I'm more worried about the TBF Nov 2014 #125

You might want to distinguish between long term and post-operative and other short term use. merrily Nov 2014 #126

Ok I will edit my post UglyGreed Nov 2014 #133

Unqualified "No." Feral Child Nov 2014 #127

Yes. I have had three family members get addicted adigal Nov 2014 #129

Double-whammy with Lortab: the acetominophen Ilsa Nov 2014 #135

Candy really??? UglyGreed Nov 2014 #137

This is my opinion, which we were asked for adigal Nov 2014 #149

And I gave you mine UglyGreed Nov 2014 #180

Have yet to ever pecwae Nov 2014 #154

My sister-in-law was prescribed a powerful opiate for ten years adigal Nov 2014 #160

Pain is not always temporary. pecwae Nov 2014 #168

The addiction rate for people without previous addictive traits is less than 3% Xithras Nov 2014 #163

No, but doctors need to prescribe them to be taken over Ilsa Nov 2014 #134

I've been in pain UglyGreed Nov 2014 #141

There will always need to be exceptions. Ilsa Nov 2014 #155

unless Du'ers have degrees in pain management, their opinions are really going to be unnecessary La Lioness Priyanka Nov 2014 #136

What about my opinion UglyGreed Nov 2014 #138

its not about respect. my comment was said because most people have idiosyncratic opinions La Lioness Priyanka Nov 2014 #146

I understand UglyGreed Nov 2014 #148

no, i get it. this is what i mean, this conversation for those of us not in pain or those of us who La Lioness Priyanka Nov 2014 #152

People long to be accepted UglyGreed Nov 2014 #176

No, people in pain should have all medical options to stop pain. However, the Pharm. Corps Sunlei Nov 2014 #139

I imagine long term pain could lead to depression or worse ecstatic Nov 2014 #143

Can you agree that we all don't have the same threshold for pain? HockeyMom Nov 2014 #144

I was once like you. Boudica the Lyoness Nov 2014 #165

I walked around for days with that ruptured ectopic HockeyMom Nov 2014 #170

I agree with you. It's true, IMO. HOwever, every time this subject comes up on DU I have found so CTyankee Nov 2014 #173

This is such a slippery slope. First and paramount - pain is subjective and cannot be quantitated. Avalux Nov 2014 #145

No. Aristus Nov 2014 #147

No one should suffer fredamae Nov 2014 #153

Why would anyone want to sentence anyone else to constant pain? djean111 Nov 2014 #158

Apparently, because a chance for pecwae Nov 2014 #169

Suicide rate too low or something? One_Life_To_Give Nov 2014 #161

NO... abakan Nov 2014 #164

For fuck's sake no. TheKentuckian Nov 2014 #167

Don't force ANY Health Care on somebody else HockeyMom Nov 2014 #172

No, absolutely not. NaturalHigh Nov 2014 #179

I want to thank those UglyGreed Nov 2014 #181

BTW, I do agree with one recommendation here LeftishBrit Nov 2014 #182

Whistleblowers say military doctors and VA have overprescribed powerful narcotics UglyGreed Nov 2014 #184

Lewiston man pleads guilty in UPS medication theft case UglyGreed Nov 2014 #187

Not in my experience pecwae Nov 2014 #189

Well when these pain medications are shipped and they can be UglyGreed Nov 2014 #192

Pain meds I receive pecwae Nov 2014 #194

They can and do get stolen by UPS employees N/T UglyGreed Nov 2014 #195

Pharmacies get robbed. ret5hd Nov 2014 #209

You know what I have an idea. UglyGreed Nov 2014 #193

I think when people are referring to a candy store they mostly are talking about how easy it seaglass Nov 2014 #190

all I know is that when I started going to UglyGreed Nov 2014 #197

No. I let my pain killers sit half empty after a pancreatic Eleanors38 Nov 2014 #186

The hardest part is that UglyGreed Nov 2014 #188

This is true. Eleanors38 Nov 2014 #191

No - but we need team based treatment for chronic pain - hedgehog Nov 2014 #204

Having undergone gallbladder surgery a week and a half ago... 99Forever Nov 2014 #210