I am a doctor and was at a movie theater when a young woman collapsed in the lobby. I went over to see if I could help and she had the classic signs of an opioid overdose. She had a lot of secretions but her pulse was strong, but when the cop showed up and I asked him for narcan, he wouldn’t touch her because he was afraid it might be fentanyl and he didn’t want to OD on it. So I had to just monitor her vitals and put her in the recovery position until ems showed up and would actually treat her. So the misinformation is actively harming people.
@@merchillio yeah I’m sure he was probably trained to. He just didn’t want to because he was afraid of getting the fentanyl on him lol. Never mind he was watching me touch her with my bare hands without any problems.
i work in supportive housing in NYC and i do know people who use drugs safely and recreationally, and are functioning members of society. love this video
My son's ADHD meds have been hard to get because of the trickle-down effect of the Adderall shortage (he does not take Adderall, but many Adderall patients have had to be switched to other meds, including the one he depends on). This is not a lone example; there is NEVER a clinician in the room when health care decisions are made! Ridiculous! Thanks Dr. Mike for explaining how this works!
Here's one issue with prescription regulation and them being legal: illegal resale. You see it with items like graphics cards and it will just be even worse with drugs that are required to improve someone's well-being. You would either have to go through legal means and be put on a wait-list OR buy it from a 3rd party that doesn't have QC or regulations. Humans will try to make money from anything they can. Getting rid of prescriptions will just make it worse and change the region that "drugwars" will occur in.
OK as a former opioid addict I completely agree with this guy regarding stopping the war on drugs, legalizing drugs and using the funds for housing, outreach, etc. he is absolutely incorrect in stating you can use heroin on a DAILY basis and not become addicted. Perhaps not psychologically.. somehow i guess.. you certainly WILL develop a physical dependence. Speaking of which he chose to make the distinction that addicts continue to use to stave off withdrawal symptoms, although true, (and is exactly why they're as destructive as they are in the first place) is a moot point. You get to that level of physical dependence because you liked the feeling of being high better than life itself.. on a daily basis
I stuck a needle in a guy once and it was too much for him. If my friend wouldn't have had narcan on him he would have died. I don't know where I would be today if it would have went different. I definitely wouldn't be sober. Probably wouldn't be alive.
But you know it won't happen because people are fragile and want to be told it'll be OK if we do x without looking into the issue further. They don't care how it's done, they just want to feel better. God were a bunch of wusses.
@@Flakjacket96 "Proceedings to add, delete, or change the schedule of a drug or other substance may be initiated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), or by petition from any interested party" To be completely fair; the DEA has a say but they do not have the final say in all cases. DHHS and the FDA can still make the decision to authorize the use of drugs the DEA has explicitly controlled which is why you can still get Morphine legally in a hospital but not at 7/11. The DEA is a regulator and enforcement agency but their power is limited by federal laws which oversee their regulatory power. This law is called the CSA or Controlled Substances Act. The CSA does not authorize the DEA to ban a drug, only to control its manufacturing and distribution to ensure it is RX only. The doctor in the video did mention that you can do things like take heroin without harming yourself, so on his own merits you cannot trust what he is saying. Clearly injecting unknown substances made in an unknown non-sterile way even with a known sterile needle and cleaned injection site is never going to be without harm. He also says there is no heroin which is clearly untrue because heroin is extremely easy to produce from opium poppy plants and fentanyl is extremely hard to produce because it is entirely synthetic. I worked at a manufacturing plant where we produced most of the opioid narcotics available for use in the United States and I can assure you that heroin is readily made by someone with very little chemical knowledge. Even your morphine is made by someone with no science background at all. However, the Fentanyl is made only by highly qualified scientists who are the best in their fields. Fentanyl is extremely common these days, but that doesn't mean that heroin doesn't exist.
It's definitely a good way to get people that used adderall to look for other sources like meth. Then prosecute those people to keep your job security. I mean look what happened with oxy prescriptions. People ran out and went to the street.
Yes! Honestly his way of having non judgmental conversations makes it seem like he would be an excellent doctor for a patient to trust and be open with.
I like how it's a calm, collected, professional conversation. Neither of the men is getting angry at the other. They're respectfully listening to one another and providing evidence-based reasons as to why or why not.
Because it isn't social media.. disrespecting someone to their face in person has consequences.. too many people are comfortable disrespecting people on the web
Evidence based? Really?😂 I mean when this guy claims “almost most of heroin users don’t have addiction to it”, he’s evidence is literally “I know plenty of people”.😂😂😂 There is no statistic result mentioned, no paper referenced, what kind of doctor is that
I'm glad to see that fentanyl "overdose" video debunked on a channel this large. The misconception that you can overdose just by being near or touching fentanyl is way too common.
yea, until i watched this video, I thought it was true too. being a senior in high school, all you teachers are trying to warn you about drugs in college and stuff like that and were putting a huge emphasis on fentanyl and were basically saying that being within a foot of it is deadly. i think highlighting the dangers that it poses but being REALISTIC is what they should be striving for, not just telling people dont get close to it or you're gonna die
I'm slightly confused on what he said though because in the medical field it can hurt you that's why you have to wear gloves when applying it. Powder won't do that I am assuming is what he means but the patches you NEED to wear gloves.
I had to explain to my buddy who genuinely thought fentanyl was basically a chemical weapon. To add some background information, I am a registered nurse who handles fentanyl on a frequent basis. My buddy who is was in the police academy, was told it's this nefarious killer that would connect you to God's wifi if you even got a whiff. I'll put on gloves for transdermal patches, but anything else I'll use my bare hands because I'm equipped with something called keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, also known as skin. Its pretty good at preventing things from getting in your blood
Exactly! I'm on Fentanyl transdermal patches for pain (I'm in the UK) and when I've been watching US TV shows or news the way they react to it terrifies me!
It doesn't come in little baggies like to buy off the street. A lot of times, people get a patch or lollipop. It might be different in the UK but in the US they usually don't give liquid fentanyl unless it's for end of life care. Also she said she's on a patch
My bff was in a lot of pain because of a car accident when she was 29. She went through many surgeries but was never cured of pain. She made the mistake of filling a hydro prescription from a different doctor (because she had a fall and couldn't see her normal doctor at the time) not to long after she got one from her normal doctor. They put her on a list, and after that, no matter what she felt or what they put her through, she was denied any pain relief. 4 years, and many conversations with her doctor pleading him to help her in any way possible because they couldn't fix her, she couldn't take it anymore. She found someone to buy percocet from. These pills were way stronger than what she would have been given from her doctor, but it was all she could find. She was desperate for relief. 1 year later, she had become addicted to them. Not too long after I started noticing a problem, I got a call at 8 am on Jun 20th from her husband saying she passed away in the night. Her heart finally gave out from all the strain the pills put on it. I was so angry. This was not who she was. This all started because she was in true, real pain, and no one cared. I'm watching this video as the 1 year anniversary of her death approaches. I miss her so much. I do not blame her or judge her. I feel that she was failed by her doctors. Things could have gone so differently. RIP Allison 🙏 ❤
Yeah, a lot of doctors like to think they know what pain feels like because they read a textbook written by someone else who's never experienced pain other than maybe a pulled muscle and now thinks that make them an expert
Being in chronic pain puts you at a greater risk for heart disease. She would probably be alive today if the Dr just prescribed her the normal pain medicine, and monitered her usage. I'm sorry for your loss.
I’m so sorry for your lose and the medical mismanagement that was the cause of it. RIP Allison, and to those who loved her, I hope they are at peace with her passing.
Regarding shortages: I have narcolepsy. Several years ago there was a Ritalin shortage. I also have ADHD. That means that neurologically, I am somewhat resistant to the stimulating effects of Ritalin. They don't act like they would on someone without ADHD. Therefore I needed slightly higher doses (maximum 90mg per day), and I needed the Instant Release variant to to several other factors. Other drugs didn't help and I would often suffer for 1-3 weeks because of the shortages. Another fail: Xyrem was released as an Orphan drug for narcolepsy. I started this a few years after it came out. Guess what that drug is? GHB / sodium oxybate. Works WONDERS for REM suppression in narcolepsy. But it cost $32,000 - $40,000 per year!! I studied chemistry. I could make a few gallons for what they were charging for a monthly amount. I mean obviously that's illegal, but it's freaking extortion.
I have narcolepsy too. I work at a pharmacy and have always been adamant to avoid adderall and methylphenidate due to the shortages. I take modafinil and xywav now. You are not alone
I have narcolepsy, too. The shortage on Adderall meant I was taking a dose that was much lower than I needed just so I could make it last all month and only one pharmacy had any, which wasn't covered by my insurance.... Not a great situation. I was just switched to Armodafinil, but I also have Adhd and it's not enough for the adhd and I'm having worse reactions to it... The shortage on drugs and the fact that insurances can decide to just not cover the dosage you need is insane.
@lynningram4218 I tried modafinil for narcolepsy several times, and it gave me headaches every night and after a month I'd feel awful 😖 unfortunate, considering it worked very well. Now I'm on nothing 😅 and routinely fall asleep at work.
I like to see the human side of this issue be taken seriously. My brother died and thankfully was brought back with narcan from an overdose of fentanyl from pills he bought on the street. He's had chronic pain his whole life from a birth defect, multiple surgeries that failed to help/made it worse, countless physical therapists and orthopedic specialists, nothing helped him live a normal life anywhere near as effectively as narcotic pain medication. But his doctor cut him off a few years ago and he's desperate to be able to work and have a social life again. It's hard to hear people write narcotics and users off as just dumb addicts who need to be saved instead of fellow people with worth and nuance.
Yesssss. I’m so sorry about your brother! I too live with chronic pain that is barely managed by a very low dose of an opioid that hasn’t changed in 10 years. My psychiatrist has even told my pain management that my pain is NOT under control but I’m just thankful it’s not been cut off and I dare not complain. I would not be able to cope without my pain meds. I would be on the street as well. 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔
Same:) Ryan's response to heroin use was great but I had to laugh because he was trying so hard to explain it in a way to be correct but respectful at the same time. It took his a moment tho to think about how he wanted to respond tho lol
@@CMT_Crabbles It’s like writing on a bathroom wall: people can express wild, wrong, or goofy things while having some anonymity. Not that I, whose name is I, would ever approve of such.
Honestly, if Fentanyl was as bad as police make it out to be, we would be seeing doctors and nurses dropping down left and right in hospitals and nursing homes. 🙄
@@melvinelder3587 you still aren't dropping by just being in a general vicinity of it. Unless you are licking it or ingesting it in some form, it's NOT gonna make you pass out
I wrote a paper on this topic in College. Countries like Portugal are proof that decriminalization, safe use facilities, and better treatment programs are a better alternative to the war on drugs.
Im really glad the adderall topic was covered. ADHD still has a lot of stigma associated with it just being unable to sit still or be off in a dream land but it’s SO much more than that. Adderall literally saved my life. Before it, my ADHD was so bad that it was almost impossible for my to take care of myself because of how distracted and low energy I was. I failed out of three colleges. I couldn’t work. I almost got into so many wrecks because I just couldn’t focus on driving. I could sleep for 15 hours and still be unable to have the energy or drive to brush my hair. A year after starting adderall I no longer sleep 15 hours a day and am excelling in nursing school. It’s so much more than a study tool.
Having had to spend literal DAYS on end every month for the past 6 months, searching within 100 miles of my home, for medication prescribed to me by my physician for the past 11 years, it is infuriating to finally learn the true basis for this shortage. How dare the DEA "predict" wrong and cause so many millions to suddenly just be without medication that genuinely saved their lives?! On day 4 without my medication, generic adderall, I started becoming suicidal and with no hope in sight for this shortage to end, it is terrifying to know that there are some out there, especially children, who may not be able to cope! I am 52 years old and it takes everything I have not to go insane. How do you explain this to a child?! I am absolutely appalled to find out the DEA is behind the shortage and could literally make a phone call to end it!! There is 1000% no excuse for this whatsoever! It is criminal.
That is so similar to my life that it kinda freaked me out tbh. Especially the 15 hours of sleep! Adderall is absolutely a life-changer. Congratulations on both your success and your confidence in yourself. You've earned it. 💗
You give me hope that one day, I might be able to get medicated and experience the joys of living unhindered by ADHD. I do okay, but I recognize I shouldn't be as overwhelmed all the time as I am. I'm wishing you the absolute best 🖤🖤🖤
200% agree. As a chronic pain patient and mom of kids with ADHD, policy changes have controlled and at times wrecked our ability to access a decent quality of life more bc than our doctors, our habits, or anything else.
Same. I have ADHD, and have a spinal cord injury. If you try to have your prescription changed to where you know they have it, the doctor can lose their ability to prescribe controlled substances
Yep I have fibromyalgia and something as simple as lidocaine patches can be hard for me to get due to insurance. They say it has to be for lower back pain and my pain is in my hips. Every few years they start denying my prescription and then the nurses have to reword it and prescribe for low back pain to get it reinstated. Meanwhile I’m without them and in more pain. My son also has ADHD and when he was on a stimulant we had to wait until he was on his last two pills (they would only fill for 28 days…like only one month has that few days, give me a 30 day supply!), then go pick up the written prescription, take it to the pharmacy and then they would fill it. Then they started allowing it to be called into the pharmacy rather than us picking up a paper one. Still only 28 days and only a couple days before he ran out. I’m so glad he’s how switched to a non stimulant as he gets refills on it and it can be called in. So much easier. But it’s like, it’s hard enough having a condition like that, and then you make it so difficult to get the medication. I can’t imagine him as an adult actually being able to handle it all- remembering when to call for a refill, going and getting the paper copy- I’m hoping he will either not need the meds when older or will be able to stay on a non stimulant
I have fibromyalgia and my doctors office decided they were going to change their policy on how many pills they would give for any controlled substances. They didn't tell me this until I went to pick up my prescriptions from the pharmacy and they had cut my Lyrica dosage in half!!! I am so mad I could scream. My pain level has been the through the roof. I am going to be looking for a new doctor.
I have ADHD too, I do non stimulant treatment, and from what I hear of others’ experience, non stimulant medication is not as effective. Did you try both? What was your opinion?
Honestly as a former addict I completely agree with what he’s saying. If you legalize these, decriminalize them and regulate them, so many people will stop dying.
@@SassyStrawberry1 it needs to be federally regulated, kind of like with alcohol or marijuana where it’s legal (even though that’s not regulated federally) I just think if they take all these steps before they legalize things than it could help people from dying when they think they have cocaine or heroin and it ends up being fentanyl or something stronger
This is important information and an important conversation. I appreciate two licensed, practicing, medical professionals having this discussion "in front of us."
You’d think they’d understand that medical fentanyl and street fentanyl, is not the same. But honestly, if someone doesn’t want a drug, it shouldn’t be forced on them. I’m all for proper pain management (SCI with severe nerve pain) but not everyone responds the same way. I’ve had fentanyl and morphine, several times, during and post-surgery, and I hate both. They don’t help with pain and make me feel horribly sick.
I'm a hospice nurse and have literal dying people in horrible pain because of cancer or whatever terminal illness, refuse pain meds because the media has terrified them when it comes to opioids. They are either terrified we will accidentally kill them, even though we have more knowledge about how to use those meds than the vast majority of medical providers, or they are afraid they will get addicted, even though they won't live long enough for that to matter even if they did.
True dat, I have spinal stenosis on top of other disabilities & medical issue's, pain & fatigue is the story of my life & wld rather DIE than get any opiates despite them being very much needed, justified & low key an absolute.
So in short, everything is broken in our nation. Not a single system that is set up to "benefit anyone" is actually benefiting anyone. Thank you for this episode, Dr. Mike. We need more things like this.
I mean the American military does it's job perfectly. The United States has had zero fear of foreign invasion or war on their turf for nearly a hundred years now, and through it's protection has extended the same benefits to the rest of North America and Western Europe. The only problem with that one is its become so dominant culturally and politically that it chokes out the funding for basically every other social program.
You were talking about 'the people who want to take it will, whether it's legal or not', which is true... but nearly everybody I have ever met has tried alcohol because it is legal and 'normal'. A much smaller percentage of people have tried other drugs. Any legal drugs are more likely to be tried by more people.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for covering this topic!! I work in harm reduction and the stigma surrounding drugs and drug use is still so prevalent and the misinformation is HORRENDOUS. I'm so glad to see this coming from a popular and respected medical professional!
also: triple the punishment for anything done while intoxicated. i really don't like it when people get off with lesser penalties if they are drunk on purpose. not my problem if you don't have yourself under control. make sure that someone is taking care of you and prevents you from doing bad things.
Drugs ruin lives. They make people abusive in some cases, they break families, send people into debt. making absolutely everyone able to access them is very dangerous because people who wouldn’t even be exposed to it can just buy it. Meth isn’t going to help ANYONE you can die taking it once. What is happening? I’m confused?
I think it's horrible that an agency that has no medical personnel can make laws about medications. I feel bad for all of the people who legitimately need Adderall and can't get it because of the DEA. There should be a class action lawsuit against them!
100%. The problem is also undertreating and accusing others of not legitimately needing it. That’s exactly what the DEA does. They are harming people who need these drugs claiming that because so many suddenly “need” to that their needs must not be legitimate. But they are making these assumptions and judgments without clinicians, doctors, or experts. They have no idea what they are doing and no idea what they are talking about. The government should have NO business in your healthcare decisions, or the prescriptions, treatments, therapies, or procedures you need. That decision should always be between the patient and their doctor(s).
As a generic adderall user for the past 11 years, I agree with you 100%!! It is criminal to take something from someone who depends on it for normal day to day functions that is monitored and prescribed by a MEDICAL professional!!! I cannot tell you how terrifying it is when I can see the bottom of my prescritpion bottle each month and know I have to start making 100s of calls, praying that someone got lucky and got a shipment in! It is debilitating every single month!
I take Adderall to be able to function on a daily basis. The amount of hate, bias and dismissal by other people for my condition is horrifying. I feel like I've been bullied all my life.
I have a BS-Pharm. I definitely agree with Dr. Marino's ideas. I am surprised I did not know DEA has no medical personnel. Ridiculous. And as clinicians, it would be nice to have a pharmacist in the room.
Thank you so much for discussing ADHD. A lot of women specifically (including myself) went undiagnosed for years. I literally never even questioned it for myself until I found out my daughter had ADHD. I do believe the rise in diagnoses comes from continued education and awareness around it (alongside many not so truthful people saying they have it just to get medication).
The issue with the stimulant shortage is affecting so many people. It almost feels like we are going backwards 30 years to when parents were ridiculed or called lazy for treating their children’s psychiatric disorders with prescribed medication. I’ve been affected by the shortage also, and it’s dangerous for me to do my work without it. Learning that there are no medical professionals involved with the DEA is both enraging and heartbreaking. I wish we could change the stigma 😢
theres been a shortage on antibiotics once in the US when i needed it a few years ago for a right ear infection. i get them in that ear so much it's considered a chronic issue, possibility of going deaf in that ear if i don't get antibiotics when i get another one. honestly i was told the shortage that i dealt with was because the companies wouldn't supply it when they could have to a lot of places. i never found out if it was true but it is scary when you can't get what you need. i know it's been some time but i hope it was fixed for people like you who need it.
@@izoraiza7169also the research on antibiotics is mostly stagnant because they're not very profitable for drug companies to invest money into. Drug resistance certainly doesn't help the profit incentive. We're truly one superbug away from hell on earth.
watching my husband suffer without his ADHD meds has been heartbreaking. now hearing the "why" has me shaking with rage. thank you for this video. even as a recovering opioid addict with close to 7 years of sobriety under my belt, i 100000000% agree with legalizing and then regulating all drugs. people will do what they want to do anyway. keep them safe in the process
I think the reason people don't want legalization in part has to do with them actively wanting addicts to suffer as punishment or just not caring if they do.
I always wondered how people were using fentanyl if you can OD by being near it or touching the tiniest amount of it. I'm pretty sure junkies aren't always being super careful around their dosages and storage methods.
You can’t. I’ve held a gram of fentanyl powder in my hand and it did nothing (I don’t do fentanyl or opioids but my friend does). I mean that’s ridiculous, it cannot magically get into your blood stream through your skin lol. The only way is with a scientifically designed transdermal fentanyl patch.
I appreciate this guy, it's such a hard subject to speak out about because people are so firmly set in their beliefs around drugs and safe use .. appreciate mike for having such an open mind ❤
I am so grateful that you highlighted this issue on your channel. I work in drug prevention and the misinformation out there is so scary and keeps people (including first responders) from providing help when someone needs it. There are law enforcement officers in my area trying to combat this misinformation, and it just feels like such an uphill battle. I'm grateful for the reach your platform provides. Thank you!
This is a nice video to see on this channel. I am all for legalization and harm reduction instead of our current messed up system where our "war on drugs" is just causing more deaths and filling up our jails and prisons.
As someone with a chronic illness (IBD), in response to the pharma and healthcare system mistreating us, I can confirm. COVID absolutely played a factor in healthcare providers being so tired and overwhelmed that I’ve had providers who have forgotten to check up on me after needing significant medical help (i.e. had significant IBD flare). I also am required to take a biologic medication every 2 months, and if I had no insurance, I would be out 180,000 a year. That is more than triple the amount that minimum wage workers make in a year. There need to be regulations that control the amount of profit made by those companies such that it’s directly proportional to the research cost. I’ve also had the issue of adderall shortage affect me, I only was able to find a 2 week supply that I had to ration for one month while calling quite nearly 100 pharmacies who all did not have it, which resulted in a change in medication altogether, which only added more stress to the process. At the end of the day medical professionals need to be involved in the discussion and development of the legislature that guides the processes for all of the issues that were discussed, mainly in the arena of pharmaceutical production and in the regulation of pharmaceutical companies’ pricing (proportional to their direct costs which should be involved in the regulation process that is guided by medical professionals) for the drugs that so many need to either function properly or to literally STAY ALIVE. I should not have a financial barrier prevent me from receiving lifesaving care, including medication. It’s disgusting, it’s greedy, it’s harmful to the majority of people. In all of these discussions and situations, the priority needs to be the health of individuals first and foremost, no exceptions, with (which should be minimal, necessary [i.e. regulated pricing for further development based on audits/analysis of costs]) profit being on the farthest back burner.
I'm from Portugal, one doctor here saw the effects drugs were having on the community, and how villainizing and ostracizing drugs users led to an increase in drug related deaths. His solution? Decriminalization. The result: Drug-related deaths have remained below the EU average since 2001 The proportion of prisoners sentenced for drugs has fallen from 40% to 15% Rates of drug use have remained consistently below the EU average
Thank you for talking about the Adderall shortage and mentioning some of the very real risks associated with untreated ADHD. I’ve been impacted by the shortage. So have other people in my community. Meds don’t solve all are problems, sure, but they’re a very important tool. For many folks with ADHD, going without our meds for an extended period of time can greatly impact our livelihoods, relationships, quality of life, etc. I’d like to see a dedicated video on the topic. Get more eyes on this. Also… maybe introduce Adderall FIRST as an ADHD med, instead of leading with how college students may recognize it. We have enough trouble with stigma as it is. >_>
Yeah I didn’t appreciate the college students comment. My son has ADHD and used to take concerta until he stopped gaining weight since it affected his appetite. We switched to a non stimulant. My brother takes adderall and is in his late 40s. So just because some people misuse it, we don’t need to add further stigma…coming from the medical community no less
I have ADHD too and went the non stimulant route. And it helps but from what I hear of others’ opinions, stimulants are more effective. Have you tried both? Comparably, what’s your opinion?
I'm currently suffering with untreated ADHD, BECAUSE of the stigma around it. My parents are very traditional and don't even like me having caffeine because of it being a stimulant, but I've noticed that I function better with caffeine in my system. I always joked that I had an addiction, but I've noticed recently that I've been self-medicating to help with my ADHD symptoms. Getting a prescription for something like Adderall would have been a life saver for me, but at 19 years old I'm now having to fight for access to some form of medication which would increase my quality of life drastically
@@taylorkat8614 if caffeine helps you then a stimulant would probably be really helpful for you. And it would have a consistent dose, which you won't get with caffeine. My son took a stimulant and it really helped him but he went off it since it affected his appetite and he is still growing so needed to eat more. He is on a non stimulant that works OK, but not as well as the stimulant. Adderall is not the only one- ritalin and concerta are popular and work well. See your doctor and mention your concerns to them. They will hopefully steer you to something that can help. Good luck!
I absolutely LOVE this. stop focusing on the drugs...and focus on the reason why people get addicted to them or use them as a coping mechanism. It's a MEDICAL issue...not a LEGAL issue.
It’s a legal issue when kids can get to the drugs that addict parents leave lying around. It’s a legal issue when the addicts are passed out in public spaces. It is a legal issue.
As a recovering addict with over 3 years clean, whos DOC Was H*ero*n, there is no way to tell if a person will be able to use without any consequences, until after they've used, and i cant think of an ethical way to let people use it, without risking and ruining lives, or even death, because thats what drug addiction does, jail, institutions or death. I wouldn't wish addiction on my worst enemy, and i certainly wouldn't want it available for use commercially.
@@GreyGirl999 addiction is very much biological. It has pretty well documented that about 15% of people have a genetic makeup that will cause them to become addicted to a substance. Many can use and never have a problem. It is a roll of the dice in that regard.
Alcohol is far more dangerous and does more damage to the body than heroin does. Do you believe there isn't am ethical way to sell alcohol? Why is heroin magically not ethical when it's literally safer? 90% of people who use "hard" drugs like heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, etc. never develop substance use disorder. What is unethical is violating people's basic human right to bodily autonomy by kidnapping and caging people for substances. We could end the overdose crisis almost overnight by ending the drug war and ensuring access to legal, safe supply.
I have narcolepsy and ADHD. When I was unable to get my Adderall, which treats both, my neurologist decided to try different medication’s that, I shit you not, cost thousands of dollars a month. One of them cost $16,000 for a one month supply. Another one cost $7000 for a one month supply. My insurance said they would cover a big portion of it but I would still have to come out of pocket for $2000. I learned later that’s because the insurance company has a deal with big Pharma and gets a discount where they’re not really paying thousands of dollars to cover it. I do not have $2000 a month. I contacted Nord, (National Organization for Rare Diseases) which helps with medication‘s. But because narcolepsy is so rare they did not have funding for it yet so they put me on a waiting list. By the time they received funding and could help me, I had already gotten to the top of the list from my pharmacy of people waiting for Adderall and got my one month supply. The American medical system is so jacked up. The way I do it now is even if I have plenty of Adderall I get a prescription every month and turn it in, that way when I do run out I finally get to the top of the waiting list and I’ll be able to get it filled. Without it I literally cannot function. I’m either having sleep attacks from my narcolepsy or I am unable to focus on anything because of my extreme ADHD. Something needs to change.
This was very insightful and this was the first time I’ve actually heard understandable and justifiable reasons to legalize drug use! I didn’t realize the DEA was the reason for the adderall shortage, it has been a crazy year and made many lives so much more difficult than needed! Glad you did this, thank you both for your invaluable insight!
What he says about housing, childcare, etc coming from the drug war budget is correct, but it also needs to go towards rehab facilities. Portland, OR tried decriminalizing all drugs, but they did it without updating any of their infrastructure. The number and sizes of shelter, detox, and rehab facilities stayed the same. The situation there is horrible and has gotten much worse since they decriminalized. I would also say we cannot allow politicians to make decisions like this without consulting medical experts. It’s just sad. I’m pro-deregulation, but the infrastructure needs to be in place to actually HELP people.
Actually, because of the pandemic a lot of shelters, detox centers, and rehab facilities were also shut down. For example, during the pandemic the only Methadone clinic in my area was shut down, leaving a lot of people at risk. I agree that better infrastructure is needed.
As a former pharmacy tech who has ADHD and takes Adderall, the Adderall shortage makes me so angry. Pharmacies don't have the ability to determine whether or not the person getting their prescription filled has a legitimate diagnosis; they fill scripts in the order that they get them. If the DEA thinks the increase in demand is caused by an increase in illegitimate prescriptions or diagnoses, they should be targeting prescribers to fix this, not supply.
I've been saying this since I first became an IV heroin addict and then got clean. I was a bit more of a 'responsible' user, since I ventured into the world to experiment and try to understand how it all works, anything from hard drugs, to psychedelics and research chemicals that had not been introduced or studied for human consumption yet. I weighed everything with microgram scales, tested it (reagants/test strips and informal drug assays/GC-MS), clean and unused needles, safe disposal of IVs, micron filters, alcohol swabs etc. I saw so many people that had no idea what they were doing, or suffered dangerous adverse reactions because: 1. They were unaware their product was cut - which alters the dosage and possible interacts with their health. 2. Often not open to their doctors about their health due to the perception of the legal aspect (and possibly shame). 3. Struggle to get help and entering a opioid maintenance therapy program/regiment (e.g. Buvidal injections or Subuxone strips [Buprenorphine]) 4. Unable to adequately measure their dosages. 5. Unable to help in overdoses due to lack of Narcan or Naloxone. 6. Re-using needles. 7. Improper education and guidance of safe injecting techniques and procedures. Legalising (and REGULATING) can do so much more to alleviate those issues. Especially when coupled with education, safe injection rooms like in Australia, and importantly - removing legal consequences that affect their life AFTER getting clean (unable to get a job due to their criminal record). I remember the only people that agreed with me were the Drug Policy advocates/organisations down here and those experts have my deepest respect. Regulation can open the doors to greater, open education and public health information, pure and clean products with consistent dosages and lack of cutting agents. Although not perfect, I see this as the only way forward and above all is fairest to over a 100m illicit drug users in the world.
My brother died of an overdose beginningof 2018. Certificate said "morphine and fentnyl" I have been wondering over the last few years that regulation could help with the astronomical amount of deaths. I think these rooms you describe sound like a good idea. Prior to knowing about my brother's addiction I was of the mind that anyone who suggested giving addicts clean needles were enablers. But after his death I started to see things a but different and realized that those people and enablers are very different.
Purse drugs, clean needles, and easily available Narcan. It's so simple, but so many people are brainwashed by D.A.R.E. and the "war on drugs" and they see using any drug (other than alcohol or nicotine) as a moral failing. So many people seem to think it's okay that people die, that they ruin their lives. When it would be so easy to help them, but the laws make it so hard.
To point number two, it can really fuck you over to be completely honest with your doctors about drug use. I am all for honesty, but then when you are in severe pain and nothing has worked, and normally opioids would be prescribed, doctors are often reluctant to prescribe them due to ignorance.
I Agree with his assessment that if we make drugs legal that it will stop a lot of problems. People will do the drugs either way making it legal just makes it so that they feel safe going to someone for help when they need it.
I take Vyvanse and the strict stimulant regulations on how much you can get in one refill has really affected me. Realistically, I cannot function without my ADHD meds. I get horrible withdrawal symptoms and I stay in bed the whole day after missing a dose. I’m going on a 3 week vacation later this summer and I had to have a conversation with my mom about how I won’t have enough Vyvanse to last the whole trip, and we can’t refill during the trip because it is overseas. If I went without it, I’d be missing seeing my family and enjoying the trip because I would be struggling so much. So, the plan was to ration this refill and not take it every day so I can save up extra for the trip. This should not be necessary. The fear surrounding stimulant medications means that so many people do not have access to literal life changing treatments.
I use drugs, but as a kid I wasn't allowed to take any adhd meds because my mom is a special Ed teacher and believed most people can learn to cope with enough patience, and I got better at stuff. Definitely easier to take the meds but idk
Anyone of us working in a pharmacy knows the stress of the adderall shortage. To see people at their wits end just trying to get their meds is so frustrating. Especially in DE where there's a 7 day expiration on c2s. But the DEA claims no one has reached their limits so they are trying to pass the buck
I'm glad the school year wrapped up before the "sorry, the pharmacy is out and we don't even have any coming in from our supplier right now" phone call. But for adults with ADHD there is no summer break where being unmedicated is less of a hindrance.
Seeing all these horror stories about Adderall shortages brings back so many awful memories but also makes me feel so incredibly thankful that the local pharmacy I discovered a few years ago has never once been unable to fill my prescription.
THANK YOU DR. RYAN! YES! In Australia it is your right under the health act you're allowed to INGEST or CONSUME any substance you want. However the criminal act gets in the way of purchasing, selling, holding, or having. Having taxes go towards healthy provision of substances and education around them and the safe use, just makes more sense.
It's not perfect but it's so much better. If some people are taking drugs and one of their friends overdoses, they can just call the ambulance and they and the person who overdoses (if/when conscious) can just be honest about what they've had, without threat of police or jail. Not having this policy in some countries must cause so much unnecessarily harm and death.
Yes. I think treating addicts like criminals is, well, criminal. Regulate, regulate, regulate, go after illegal dealers. It would seriously reduce the power of cartels and give more addicted people a chance to live long enough to seek help.
I firmly believe that all drugs should be decriminalised and regulated in the same way alcohol is. However, we should offer education and harm minimisation around drug use. In the same way that abstinence is not sufficient or effective sex education, scaremongering is not effective in keeping people safe around drugs. People should be encouraged to acknowledge if their drug use (including alcohol) is becoming problematic.
I both agree and disagree. Drugs should be decriminalized, as well as regulated. Education should be offered. But fearmongering is a proven method of postponing first exposure to drugs (mostly alcohol) in younger people, and early usage has a strong correlation to the development of addiction. This is because the brain on puberty is significantly more prone to addiction. As such, education on drugs is, in my opinion, quite a bit more difficult. You want to teach the children safe ways to use drugs for when they are older, but they need to be heavily discouraged from using at a younger age because both their decision making has not fully developed yet and their risks are significantly larger.
@@megustAslagt If drugs were decriminalized I would have to imagine there would be age restrictions like there are for tobacco and alcohol where you wouldn't be able to buy or use a substance until adulthood where you're most likely past puberty.
@@onioneater69 true, but still we're using fearmongering to keep kids away from alcohol and tobacco despite the age restrictions. It's even recommended in the relevant scientific literature to do so
I was really curious about what you guys would say about using psilocybin to improve your way of living. Sadly, the topic of truffles was left out. In my country, magic truffles are legal (mushrooms are not), so I've been able to use some truffles. Although I wanted to have a psychedelic trip, which was a very euphoric and interesting experience, for almost 3 weeks afterwards, I had the intense urge to go on adventures, go out to see the world. I did more in those 3 weeks than I did in a normal 3 months. - There's a whole community micro dosing truffles. And I'm curious as to whether there are actual medical benefits to them, especially for people with ADD or Autism. Does it have any future in the medical/pharmaceutical industry?
Pretty sure some research is being done. Especially with microdosing or smaller doses. Remember America health system js about making money. Pharmaceutical companies don't want mushrooms legalized because then people can just make their own medicine. So they'll test and isolate exactly what works then have the FDA legalize that so they can profit. And since each mushroom is different with a ton of different varieties they'll be able to get the benefits of the mushroom while still making mushrooms in general illegal. It sucks!
We need to get money out of Healthcare. The FDA is a joke and slow as heck. Researchers and doctors should be in charge of it but they aren't. They are tools of big business. Insurance is a mess. I won't even get into that. You pointed out big pharma... I don't mind them making a profit off of a medicine that they spent millions on researching and developing. What I do mind is when they over charge because they can or cause shortages to up the price. An Epipen and insulin come to mind. Psilocybin or magic mushrooms have been proven to help certain mental diseases with micro doses or larger doses in a therapeutic setting. Think they are researching the exact chemicals so they can isolate and manufacturw them - then the FDA will approve X chemical for medical use. However since there are 1,000 other chemicals in the mushroom... It will still be illegal and big pharma will make it stay that way. Can't have people legally growing their own medicine! America's health system is such a mess.
As a patient that has chronic pain issues due to a serious fall. I had to catch myself listening to people, doctors included, that recommend to me something that is a contraindication to prescriptions that I take. Its hard when you're desperate for relief without dangerous side effect. We must remember that whats good for one person isnt necessarily good for everyone. We must be our own advocate and speak up. Our life depend on it.
@@davidcarr9772 You have to remember doctors are human and google medical degrees can help. For instance i went to urgent care during covid time. I had covid but hadnt been diagnosed yet. I had chicken pox as a kid and usually only old people with weakened immune systems get shingles. I got shingles at 30 and i looked up rashes similar to what i had on google and i went to the doctor and said hey i think this rash is shingles. The nurse who was like 65 ish looked at it and she thought it was shingles but the doctor who looked 30ish didnt think it was shingles. If i hadnt said I think this is shingles he might not have diagnosed me correctly. Also yah doctors memorize a ton of info in school and are more experienced but they are often desensitized to the patients personal struggles. If its not a cut and dry diagnosis the patient has the responsibility to advocate for themselves. The trip to the doctors office is a discussion about what can be done to fix an issue on bothe sides. Some diseases can be treated with diet and excercise or things like fevers dont necessarily need treatment if they are low and some bacterial infections dont necessarily require antibiotics. You have to be aware of your personal situation and how your decision affects you and others . Just to be clear im not anti medicine. I needed the shingles diagnosis to get antivirals prescribed and though the doctor wasnt sure it was a better safe than sorry thing because shingles can cause permanent nerve damage. But on the other hand I got strep throat and didnt take antibiotic for it because i had mild symptoms.
@@davidcarr9772 When I occasionally look things up on Google it's to give myself enough knowledge to ask those who handle my care the right questions. There's other ways to get medical information but you just need to know how to use it.
@@davidcarr9772 you don't need a medical degree to know you're in pain and that your finger that looks like it has been overcooked in a microwave then incinerated on a grill is fully dead and necrotic and that it hurts like hell. (All because the medical staff decided to ignore that you have circulation issues and neuropathy so you can't tape things super tight to one of your fingers without cutting off said circulation and killing the digit.) And also staff make mistakes. My Mom almost died because a Dr gave her a new med that contained something she is fatally allergic too (he simply forgot it contained it.) Then almost died because the nursing staff at the ER refused to believe her that she was dying because her allergy to it doesn't manifest in a typical way. She was also prescribed, by another Dr, a med that is known to aggravate diabetic sores. Despite them being rare for her, as she took good care of herself, she suddenly started to get covered in them. We found out by happening to see an ad for that med on TV and it being one of the listed side effects. Of memory serves (I was probably in like 7th or 8th grade at the time do it's been a while,) the side effect wasn't really well known and wasn't really added until later, so they honestly just didn't realize it was a side effect when prescribing it. Mistakes happen. 🤷♀️ Dr's are human too, and unless it's from outright negligence or refusal to help (like the medical staff in the 1st scenario,) it's understandable. It just suxks because when it comes to media care it can cause serious, even fatal, problems as a result.
I've seen a French tv show on people whom testified on how they got hooked. Having chronic pains, getting a prescription, and ending up scaming pharmacists around to get their drugs. Some pharmacists would play along ( I totally understand why). Then at point they realize something ain't right and discovered they're hooked on Opïods. Those drugs are addicted. There is something terribly wrong with that guest. And something else is telling me he's too smart to get in troubles. 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
a family member had a terrible concussion (slipped on ice and banged his head on a point of a concrete stair) that would have permanently put him in a near vegetable state (he could not listen, or talk without getting migraines.) and went to many concussion specialists around America and none and they could not do anything for him. then his wife learned about a type of mushroom that is banned in America but is used in some other countries to treat his condition. he started micro dosing this mushroom (it is a holluctionary drug at macro doses but rebuilds neural connections at micro doses) and 3 years later he can talk and listen again i saw him a few weeks ago and it was the first conversation i had with him sinse i was 6 years old if this treatment meathod was legal then he would have recovered much quicker and would have had almost 10 years of his life back if i was any more specific i am afraid that he and his wife will be arrested for several years and charged a huge fine. drugs should be allowed to be used for medical uses and it should be legal for reasherch to be doe on drugs like this without the reasherchers getting arrested so more people can recover like my uncle.
So the whole system is FUCKED up.... thanks for clearing that up. I'm so glad they are educating us but boy is this frustrating to hear. It's nice to hear people actually tell the truth. Thanks drs!!
This guy really said most people that do heroin don't end up with addiction to it. 😂 WTH is this guy smoking??? Every single person I know/knew that used heroin is either dead, in rehab, or in recovery. My wife was a junkie, she was heavily addicted. I'm calling BS on his statement. Hard drugs are bad. We should stick to Mary Jane, DMT, psilocybin, and occasionally LSD. There are benefits to taking those in moderation, and can help with a wide variety of ailments and chronic conditions. I microdose mushrooms for my PTSD from being held captive and tortured back in 2011. I was taking many prescribed medications that seemed to make my symptoms worse. I did a lot of research into holistic treatment, and started microdosing mushrooms 3 years ago twice a week. I still have issues, but my anger outbursts and flashbacks have subsided substantially. Don't pick up hard drugs, that's my advice. They are fun until they're not anymore.
My husband was a severe alcoholic for 20 years, as soon as marijuanawas legalized in WA state, he started smoking & immediately stopped drinking alcohol with minimal effects. He has been sober from alcohol for 4 years now! Placebo effect?? Maybe, either way he is healthier than he has ever been! He has had chronic pain for 30 years but absolutely refuses narcotic pain medication prescriptions. 🤷🏽♀️
Had a very hard time agreeing with this guest's logic even though I agree that all drugs should be legalized and regulated in a similar fashion to alcohol. It wasn't his stance on the drugs themselves but the addictiviness of drugs like opioids.
I was a drug addict. I love everything you didn't have to inject but my main thing was methadone. How ever I got myself off of most thing doing about 20mg of methadone daily. Of course I would do more just couldn't afford it. I started going to a clinic and they instantly put me on 75mg and increased me to 100 pretty fast. I've now been on that 100 mg for 11 years. I look back on things recently and was like omg I was only really doing 2 pills a day and now I'm on 10 I just couldn't afford it and now the government pays for. I don't know why I didn't realize this sooner. Maybe I did and I'm just an addict but it kinda feels like they get you on such a large amount so you have to stay.
The increased strength from fentanyl requires higher dosages to avoid withdrawal symptoms. I heard from a birdie that on heroin 20-30 mg would stave off wd’s, but after switching need 90 to feel okay.
I dont know what to think about regulating drugs. 1 because I'm not intelligent on the matter. 2 because I'm so emotionally affected by drug use that it's hard to think logically instead of emotionally. My best friend died in 2019 from fentanyl. He was using heroin (which he never told me, but I had started to suspect) and he got a bad batch.. I miss him terribly still today. He was the person who knew me. Really, knew me. And still cared. I'll never allow myself to feel that attached to someone again. My brother used heroin on and off after initially starting his addiction with morphine. He lied, stole and manipulated people to support his addiction. He is very smart, 4.0 GPA and generally a good person. But I've seen what heroin does to people. It rewires their brain into thinking they need the drug to function, its just as important to them as air in their lungs.. I can't imagine heroin being regulated, "used properly" or what that would even look like. I don't even like marijuana. It's mentally addicting to people who use it to treat mental illnesses. Mental illness is so common and most people aren't even willing to accept that they have some form of it. My father used marijuana as treatment for a lot of his issues and he "couldnt" run out of it. I went through a something similar as well. He would become more abusive and he would get sick without his fix. Physically and mentally. Alcohol is so poisonous as well. To people that are addicts and to people that aren't. Do you know how many people say that they're told by their DOCTOR that they can drink while pregnant and breastfeeding? They aren't willing to put the alcohol down for themselves, their children or anybody. When they're faced with an opposing view or a different opinion the claws come out. They defend their drinking like their life depends on it. I've spoken to so many mothers and mothers to be that have no idea alcohol can be harmful. Doctors argue about whether it's safe or not to drink while breastfeeding. So if there is any possibility that it isn't safe, why even take the chance? They may have an addiction that they aren't even aware of. I wish all of it could just go away. Go get high on life. Living, helping and supporting others. The smile of your child. Making memories. Singing, dancing, exercising. Anything but these dangerous cheap fixes! ❤
I agree. My community has been devastated by drug use. To your point, alcohol is regulated, yet drunk driving is still a prevalent issue. Legalization and weak regulation is not the best solution.
I really like how you talked about ADHD medications and ADHD as a condition. I am in Australia, but even here I have experienced comments about my ADHD. People don't recognise enough that invisible illnesses are real. I have more than one, and the amount of times I have been gaslight but medical professionals because they didn't believe my conditions, or just thought it was just in my head. I have heard the comments about my adhd meds, people don't seem to understand that I need it to function, it is not just something I am addicted too, if it wasn't for my reminder, I would forget to take it😆
You’re absolutely right. I was telling my friend, it’s so relatable. But people may have one or two mental health issues… but we have them all, all at once. Would you agree?
Respectfully have to disagree with Dr. Marino that the solution would be legalizing all drugs. I agree that would help reduce crime and accidental overdose, but legalizing substances that can steal your ability to make rational decisions isn’t a silver bullet to solve problems. Just because you don’t overdose doesn’t mean there’s no problems. The idea “people are going to do it regardless” could be applied to every law ever enforced and is a logical fallacy.
Alcohol is a legal mind altering substance. There is a lot of harm that alcohol does, but prohibition arguably caused a lot of harm as well and failed. I think we should learn from the regulation of alcohol to regulate other mind altering drugs. Like alcohol prohibition, the “war on drugs” creates more harm than legalization.
But almost all of those other laws are to protect OTHER people from you. Drug laws are only about stopping you doing things to yourself. That’s the inherent problem with them. And before you say “but people on drugs do bad things to other people” ya, that’s why those bad things they do are already illegal. Drugs are the one case where the government try’s to preemptively punish you for what you might have done.
I'm a devoted coffee drinker and never went out of my buy a coffee mug. But After 45 years im going to buy my first mug and it will say..... 'coffee is a friend, not an enima.'
@@thegroovyhead ..... Lol.. I hadn't noticed my typo before you caught it. Thanks! And I did! Fortunately I had it spelled the right way too. A little expensive for a coffee mug ($15, I think) but it gets a lot of comments so I think it's worth doing once.
I was addicted to hydrocodone for around 8 years. I was injured at work and my hip and my spine were severely damaged. I had to relearn how to walk kind of damage. I was having severe nerve pain when I got out of the hospital and they gave me hydrocodone to help the pain. I was in my 20s at the time and I had no knowledge about addiction or the dangers of taking the medication and quitting it instantly. After being on the medication for over 7 years I started noticing that I felt worse when I didn't take the medication then I did before I was prescribed the drug. Like horrible horrible bouts of the runs, cold sweats and trouble sleeping. The feeling that my nerves were over sensitive to every single touch. Sounds mild until you realize I wanted to die to get the feeling of my nerves being on fire to stop. It drives you crazy. You can't sleep, eat or sit or stand or lie down... That kind of crazy. I spent 2 weeks in rehab to get clean and I'm laughing at myself now because that was 20 years ago. I've been clean since and recently I've been prescribed oxycodone after my spinal surgery the 31st of last month. 2 10 mg pills every 4 hours for 5 days... Yea I didn't take even 1 a day after the surgery and it's the 13th. I still have 22 in the bottle of 30 originally. I type this to explain WHY I feel comfortable even being around that medicine after I spent 2 weeks in rehab to get off the stuff. I can take them in moderation (1 every 2 days or so) and I don't get that euphoric high that I got with Hydrocodone. I get sleepy. REALLY sleepy lol. I don't WANT to take them. I only take them when the pain from the surgery gets unbearable and the Ibuprofen isn't helping. That being said I do honestly think that if I had of known about the addicting properties of hydrocodone and had been prescribed one every 2 days to start instead of 3 a day and had been told that if I want to stop to wean myself off instead of flushing them and going cold turkey the situation would have been different. So yea I have a hard time believing that someone can take heroine and be fine without any addiction what-so-ever. If everyone could then we wouldn't have a heroine problem.
As someone with ADHD and suffering from the Aderall shortage, thank you for pointing out and discussing the things that become much easier and safer when me and people like me can actually GET the medicine we are prescribed. When I have to go of my Aderall my quality of work and ability to safely focus on driving is so much worse, and I’m so tired of people just telling me that I should just focus better and get over it. I’ve heard way too many people think this was only a drug used by college students to do better on exams and it’s great to hear about how much evidence there is in the medical community on the effectiveness and use of these stimulants.
Telling someone with ADHD to “just focus better and get over it” without an NDRA/NDRI is quite literally equivalent to telling a diabetic to “just metabolize sugar better and get over it” without insulin.
Dr. Mike, great interview! Portugal is a great example on legalized drugs stopping so much crime and saving money for better health care! The 'drug war' was aimed at blacks and hippies!👍💙💖🥰✌
I agree!! Legalizing alcohol, and now weed should be a good peek into what legalized drugs would do for our society. Oregon has taken a step in that direction with at least decriminalizing some drugs and focusing prosecution on those who sell and distribute drugs
I know exactly why the DEA controls drugs without a medical consultant, the prison system is big business. The "war" on drugs is about the money, not helping people with their life problems, that lead to addiction.
OH MY GOD!! *_That's_* why I couldn't get my Adderall last year??? Because it was being *over-prescribed* ?! I am dumbfounded and so incredibly angry. I had to switch to a previous focus med I had taken years before at the end of last school year (literally so I could complete my finals!!!), had that at the beginning of this school year, and because there's _still_ a shortage, I had to switch to a medicine with an _entirely_ different kind of release system. My normal Adderall dose is extended release, so it will last the whole day while I'm at classes; this stuff? It only works in the morning, and every single day, I forget to take it before I go to my afternoon classes. I'll catch myself spacing out too, it's awful. Thank god that I just have art classes in the afternoon, since that keeps me very much physically and mentally engaged, but what about next semester? I know I have classes where I won't be off the hook if I forget to take my meds. For the love of god, if you think you have ADHD, talk to *_several_* professionals, not just the first one (especially if they're the first one who will give you drugs). For all you know, it could just be being sleepy in the mornings or not getting enough sleep. And also, *_stay away from TikTok!!_*
The proposal he has is already done in other countries and the data shows that less people die of overdose, and overall quality of life is better, and its easier for them to get help to quit when the law isn't after you.
Very informative. As a person with chronic pain I am concerned that my prescription medication will continue to be reduced and or eliminated. I don't want to end up in a wheelchair or bedridden. I do not have addiction issues but the government is managing my care as if I did. How am I supposed to live without that part of my treatment protocol??
I choose to get the meds I used to get from a doctor at a methadone clinic. Now I have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia and spinal issues but beginning of the journey of pills was just extremely exaggerated to get the stuff I want. Now I need to be able to function so I don't tamper down as most people who are going to a clinic do but I have a good amount of pain control at way higher dose then I was given at a doctor's office and it is not only a blessing to me to have a decent amount of pain management but I also have no desire to get pills or herion to be high.
His point about heroin..I can kind of understand. Like, alcohol is a highly addictive drug as well, but not every single person becomes an alcoholic. It's still not good for your health, but when used in true moderation, isn't all that bad. Still would never try heroin, but that's just me lol.
I used opioids daily for years due to chronic pain. I had to quit because of the war on opioids and specifically oxycodone, which was the only opioid that mixed with my other medications and didn’t make me nauseous af. The withdrawals weren’t bad for me at all, which ofcourse doesn’t mean others will have a similar experience as me. Doctors told me take the max daily dose of Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen for the pain, which I try not to do, because taking multiple drugs with known long term issues is much worse than the same dosage long acting oxycodone daily. In the end overdoses have only risen, so the problems weren’t prescriptions or bIg PhArMa, they were just the scapegoat for bad government policies.
20:10 "IDK how to do that without coming off like a dick." is the most relatable thing in tis podcast. HOW am I supposed to tell my sister that Cayenne Pepper doesnt CURE A HEART ATTACK without making her feel stupid for believing a facebook video?
The Netherlands has a system of tolerating what they classify as softdrugs, recreational ones, not medicinal. They're not technically legal, but so long as you use and own it with reasonable limits and dont use it publically they'll just condone it and not do anything. I think that's a very solid system for allowing people to use drugs if they want to while also avoiding people dealing on the streets. Because the biggest danger is in buying stuff you dont know is safe or not.
The dutch way of doing things is somewhat dumb. Like you have coffeeshops everywhere but industrial growing is very much illegal. Any time you buy weed in a coffeeshop your money indirectly goes to a organisation operating outside the law. The Netherlands have more of gang violence compared to their neighbors so and that's definitely not helping. Also with that you could buy laced weed or weed with unhealthy residues in a offical shop. The Netherlands did those legislative gymnastics to comply with international treaties but it's definitely not a good solution in any strech to emulate for other countries.
@@cyan_oxy6734 Yeah it's pretty frustrating. You just have to go with whatever the coffeeshop carries, and you don't know the details of what's in it. In legalized states in the us they'll tell you where and how the weed is grown and how much THC is in edibles and extracts.
This video is VERY well explained *thank you* Dr. Ryan and Dr. Mike for debunking this over popularized and dangerous myth !!! Everyone should *get trained* (to know and understand the symptoms of an OPIOID overdose and how to respond ) and carry Naloxone.
The difference between dependence and addiction when talking about opioids is so important. Speaking from personal experience, many opiate addicts don't end up using to get high, but just to not feel sick. The withdrawals are so intense and all encompassing, and the worst part, the thing that makes people lie, steal, do things they would never do otherwise, is knowing that you can feel better, feel *normal* if you can just score. The idea of legalizing and regulating drugs like opiates seems really counterintuitive, but the data shows that it's an effective and attainable solution
I don't believe that having opium dens is an answer to illegal drug use. This guy is an idiot, having a buddy or some shop owner is not qualified to diagnose or treat an overdose or bad drug interactions. The idea of legalizing drug use just encourages the use of recreational drug use, by people who may not have ever even considered using drugs to begin with. The term "legal" also equates "safe" in thee mind of many people, honestly this type of thinking is reckless and dangerous. While I understand that the legal cost of prosecuting drug crimes is expensive, legalizing recreational drug use just passes the cost from the court system to another category of court cost. There's no difference between driving under the influence of alcohol or under the influence of marijuana or any other drug. People under the influence of any drug, rarely have a history of making safe or good decisions, in regard to their actions. There is a massive difference between requiring drugs, as a result of a true medical condition and the use of drugs for recreational use.
thank you for posting this. unfortunately it takes a lot of guts to back this perspective, but its sososo important. this way of thinking needs to be publicized more. because of the war on drugs mentality this idea of harm reduction doesn't even cross the vast majority of people's minds. we're not gonna instantly get everyone to the point of 'legalize and regulate all drugs', but these things start a shift in the right direction.
I've been an advocate for drug regulation and legalization for a long time now and im really happy that this topic is given more platform and reach trough youtuber's like you or Dr. Ryan Marino, i really hope that we will get to a point where this topic is more openly discussed. Even though i think that nothing big will change in the next few years i still hope that someday we will have a fully regulated system that actually cares about the poeple and not demonize or criminalize them.
Thank you for discussing the topic of harm reduction. I got on methadone a couple years ago and it saved my life. I was a homeless heroin addict. I was literally on the verge of death. I only take methadone and cannabis now. I am so grateful that cannabis is legal in my state. It is much easier to use it responsibly and maximize the medicinal benefits.
@@apexnext it is always refreshing to know that I'm not alone, especially on a platform like this. I'm on a fraction of the dose I was on for a couple years. It has actually been easier than I thought it would
@@jevinday yeah I try to bring it up everywhere I can. Everyday conversations like at a gas station and online like here. I'm glad you arnt afraid to talk about it so openly. That's how we help change that stigma! The emotional aspect did hit me hard recently as my dose got much much lower. As it was explained to me, my brain has had the opiates to deal with emotions for decades. Now it's trying to reprogram and deal with those problems I'd been avoiding without the opiate buffer now. Like you said it's definitely easier than I thought it would be, especially with support. I've got a great Counslor. Oh also i try to bring this up for people like us. If you can, get to a primary care doctor and have your testosterone checked! Even as my life got better i was very tired all the time. Low energy. No drive. I thought I was just broken cuz of the previous lifestyle. But a lifetime of opiates and even methadone can affect Testosterone levels! I was only 35 years old and my T level was 27. Normal levels are 300-600 apparently. 🤣 It gave me my personality back. Gave me energy again. It was the missing piece in my recovery in a lot of ways! So many of the Low T symptoms sort of share with the opiate/methadone symptoms, so check with your doctor if you can!
@@apexnextalso opiates do affect your bodies ability to produce testosterone so I think all recovering addicts should be tested because the symptoms of PAWS and low Test. can easily be confused.
I'm one of those newly diagnosed adhd people. Living your whole life with a neurodevelopmental disorder but not knowing what it is or being given the tools to manage it is really hard. Then finding out that one of those solutions is hard to get because people in the government don't think your situation is real just makes it worse. I had to call so many pharmacies to get my prescription filled and some told me they weren't filling them for new patients, only existing ones. Every time I hung up the phone I just sobbed. I finally found one that had it in stock and I don't take it everyday so it's lasted a while. It's been a really emotional process getting diagnosed made harder by people thinking I'm just a tiktok trend.
I was also diagnosed late in life. The meds made it far worse. It's not even close. Adderall will make you waste more time than anything, it also causes emotional disregulation in 100% of users. That's the clinical number 100%. The excuse for prescribing is that it's even worse to have untreated ADHD. Once you learn the truth: that it is always controllable without drugs. ADHD isn't a disease, it's a behavior we learned period. It's all about unlearning those habits. The key to overcoming ADD is discipline which is something most ADD people are really bad at. Good luck. You will definitely see after a short " honeymoon phase" the meds do not help.
@@todayilearnedsomething8105 🤣 a learned behavior..... There are literally differences in the structures of a neurodivergent person's brain, but go off.
My mother was a nurse at an old age home. She witnessed a colleague taking fentanyl patches off of dementia patients that needed pain meds and was licking them.
Mike, I am so glad you had Ryan on your show. I've been saying for years now all drugs need to be legalized, and the way Ryan explains this is a perfect example as to why. He has so much knowledge to share with people about this issue who need to understand it better. I absolutely love the guests you choose to talk with.☺️ Does anyone want to make any predictions what changes would occur if they were all legalized? I'd love to hear some. ❤️ Lilly
I have ADHD Inattentive, and I was put on Adderall in 3ed, or 4th grade. last year I went to a mental hospital and my doctor that I was given took me off of my ADHD medication and never put me on anything else for my ADHD but also never said I didn't have ADHD, instead, he put me on some kind of mood stabilizer and diagnosed me with bipolar disorder but all the mood stabilizer did was make me angrier and more irritable so I tried a bunch of different medications for bipolar but still nothing for my ADHD and when I got out of the mental hospital, my new doctor put me back on Adderall and kept me on the mood stabilizer. It's been over a year since then and my mom just stopped giving me my meds because she thought that I was too young to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder considering the fact that I'm a 15-year-old kid who's currently going through puberty so I'm gonna have mood swings and I'm gonna be irritable. I only take my Adderall when I need to focus on my schoolwork.
I would love to hear him speak about the brain changes that happen due to drug use. I learned so much in my Brain and Behavior course during our drug lecture.
I have an implanted pain pump for my chronic pain disorder (nothing else worked to get the pain under control, it was the last resort option) and it delivers a continuous dose of fentanyl to my entire upper body. It scared the hell out of me at the beginning, but honestly it's helped me slowly build back the strength and coordination after atrophying for so long!
This topic is something that definitely needs to be talked about more. My question is what happens to the real addict/alcoholic? Like ADHD, its a disease that people still dont believe in. Dr Marino is a toxicologist, could we get a doctor that is an addiction treatment specialist to add to this conversation?
The benefits would be that you could get treatment for addiction without worry of legal fallout or job loss or being shunned in the future from other needed medical treatments. Also economists could tell us a lot about the psychology of shortages. I’d wager the illicitness and difficulty to get drugs drives a lot of psychological dependence. Plus, people could talk any use open and the shame that makes it worse would stop cause as much harm.
The benefits would be that you could get treatment for addiction without worry of legal fallout or job loss or being shunned in the future from other needed medical treatments. Also economists could tell us a lot about the psychology of shortages. I’d wager the illicitness and difficulty to get drugs drives a lot of psychological dependence. Plus, people could talk any use open and the shame that makes it worse would stop cause as much harm.
Im still struggling with my herion addiction. I’ve been sober for 6 years last September and I want it every day but I can’t. I have two kids and I know if I shot herion again ONE time I would never be able to stop again. I totally disagree.
