“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better-it’s not.” These were immortalized words of the famous man, myth, and legend- Dr. Seuss. His imagination was vivid and he was quite the character but the life lessons he imparted with us in such childish warming ways left more of an impression on my adult life than I’m sure even he could’ve imagined.
In this instance, we’re caring about the opioid epidemic taking over our country as it silences the addicts and alcoholics all over the nation and the great state of Ohio. For quite some time now, we have had a growing problem with chemical dependency being fed in a legal manner by the big wig pharmaceutical companies. This crisis in just the last couple years has led to more overdoses and deaths of addicted civilians than seen in previous decade stretches. Premature death is unfortunate in any case, but the growing numbers across the country and specifically Ohio cannot be ignored anymore. It’s time to stand up to the pill producing bullies.
Get up, Stand up
Well finally somebody did stand up to Big Pharma- or a large conglomeration of somebodys we should say: The State of Ohio. The Buckeye State has filed a lawsuit against major pharmaceutical companies such as:
- Purdue Pharma
- Endo Health Solutions
- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and subsidiary Cephalon
- Johnson & Johnson and subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals
- Allergan
These are the main pill producing companies that are leaving their nasty mark on the nation with false promises of help/hope. As state Attorney General Mike DeWine has put it, these 5 companies in particular “helped unleash a health care crisis that has had far-reaching financial, social, and deadly consequences in the State of Ohio.”
This is actually a rather large deal. When you take a look at a state like Ohio and reflect on the amount of lives lost and the impact these chemicals have had, it’s hard to fathom why it’s taken this long for such preventative procedures to be taken. When laws like the SB 319 act are charging people for overdosing isn’t slowing things down- it’s clear that measures outside of the box must be taken to protect the addicts out there still living to be inflicted by the disease of alcoholism.
Stand Up for Your Right
In some instances, prescription opioids may be a crutch to lean onto when the pain is severe enough. The use of the poppy seed for its medically numbing purposes has been around for a good while now- much longer than the pharmaceutical companies. Pharmaceutical companies got their hands on the painkiller industry roughly in 1905 and have had the stronghold on the American people ever since. However, it’s been in more recent years that the dollar signs like in cartoons appeared in the eyes of the CEOs.
The lawsuit being filed alleges that “the drug companies engaged in fraudulent marketing regarding the risks and benefits of prescription opioids which fueled Ohio’s opioid epidemic.” In layman’s terms, they’re telling people whatever they need to for their chemicals to be bought. It’s not a trustworthy industry when financial gains are being placed in front of the health and safety of the people. Unfortunately, supply and demand trumps all reason in our world today.
This kind of goes hand and hand with corruption in government and the systematic approach that must be taken to make a stand for what’s right. Even with the facts in front of us, it might not be enough to put a stop to those that run the country. Pharmaceutical companies, banking industries, and oil companies seem to lead us on the final frontier of inflation and the United States debt. So it’s a job much easier said than done, but it’s worth the fight that Ohio has continued on. That’s right- continued on. Mississippi filed the same lawsuit earlier this year as it still stands. Apparently, everybody and their mother are getting tired of this opioid epidemic taking over and ruining lives.
Get up, Stand up
As mentioned beforehand, to the dismay of many, such a topic does get very political understanding the ins and outs of the pharmaceutical industry and how they tie into our government. The government works for the government- plain and simple. Our country more or less does what benefits the higher ups and big wigs and skips over the bulk of citizens that make up America. This being said, Big Pharma and the corporations and conglomerations at the top have a specific agenda that has to be followed. That agenda is bringing in money and keeping exports and imports running smoothly in a sense.
On one hand, you have the pharmaceutical companies at the top that are regulated by our government but are still graciously handing prescriptions and pills out like it’s a buffet. Then on the other hand, you have our DEA that also works hand in hand with the government, and you have them stating that the production of opioids will be cut by 25% in 2017 and that they are doing their best to focus on the issue at hand. So on two different heads of the same seven headed dragon, we have different motives being pushed leaving us in a state of oblivion and confusion.
Don’t Give Up the Fight
Opioids happen to be one of the biggest problems out there because of doctors over prescribing their patients. Often times you will see doctors handing them out because of a pay cut they might get for promoting the medication. Or even in some other cases, the doctor gets them so easily from the pharmaceutical companies that he or she will strike deals with patients and write off large quantities at a time. Opioids will not solve your problem but only mask it- whether physical or mental. Unfortunately, in this world, money is what keeps it spinning and some people and companies will toss aside all morals and values for simple monetary gain. People can be pretty impressive huh?
Tired of Being a Pharmaceutical Slave?
Ohio is one of the first states to stand up and speak out about the dangers Big Pharma poses to the good people of this nation. Addiction is not a choice but a disease that ravages lives. These companies shouldn’t be able to push these oblong shaped chemicals in your face with such ease. If you or a loved one has been struggling with getting a firm grasp on sobriety and need detoxification, please call1-800-481-8457 or visit oarcstaging.wpengine.com. Our teams of specialists are waiting by to help figure out what options are best for sending your life is a comfortable direction that you can proudly stand behind.
