I don’t know what the current administration’s actions in blowing up boats and a targeted land attack in Venezuela are designed to accomplish. According to the DEA, Venezuela is not a fentanyl producer or major cocaine producer. It is a pass-through for cocaine trafficking but not for trafficking to the U.S. Fentanyl comes either from Mexico or China.
If we want to fight drugs, we need to address the opioid crisis of the U.S. citizens. Drug traffickers are not entering the U.S. and forcing citizens to take opioids or cocaine. There is a demand from citizens for access to these drugs. And since prescribers are now limiting access, the demand for these drugs through illegal trafficking is increasing.
We need to continue to try and wean citizens off the idea that they need the pain-free properties of opioids and instead use prescribing strategies that address pain management, not pain removal. In other words, an understanding that the lowest level of pain relief is the target. Orthopedic surgeons are already doing this by limiting opioids and instead suggesting a Lyrica, Celebrex and Tylenol cocktail post surgery. This protocol worked for my spouse after shoulder surgery and for me after two recent knee replacements. The idea that I should be pain free is ludicrous. And once you get on opioids and stay on them, you eventually need higher doses — thus leading to addiction.
The administration needs to take steps to address the demand by U.S citizens (and noncitizens) if they want to fix the problem.
Jackii Mudge, Sandy
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