Monday, 21 September 2009
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Doctors Are Trying to Kill Pill Popping
In a 2008 survey, over 4 million Americans admitted to abusing prescribed pills for non-medical purposes. Because of this staggering number, doctors and pharmaceutical companies are trying to create ways to kill the market for pill popping.
Recently, pills have been revamped to be coated in a more rubber-like material. Yet while still "edible," this coating makes it harder - nearly impossible - to crush or break open. This will deter pill abusers from snorting or inhaling the crushed pill.
Additionally, some pills are being revamped to cause certain side effects in the body if the pill is altered. While the pill may be perfectly useful and applicable when taken as prescribed, some pills are now causing itching and irritation if altered. Also, some pills are now filled with a pain reliever counter-drug that, if the pill is altered, would bring down any high that could be achieved by crushing up the pill.
All of these are attempts to steer people away from abusing their own - or someone elses - prescribed drugs.
Do you think that the pharmaceutical companies have a good plan when it comes to hitting the pill popping market? Do you believe that doctors should be more worried about fixing other problems first?
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Comments (17)
For someone that can't swallow most pills and has to crush them up to take them...This is going to blow. I didn't realize they were even considering this. It's absolutely ridiculous. A doctor has to prescribe the medication first, so why not cut back on that unless it's necessary? Like...don't give someone 12 refills of a controlled substance. THAT cuts down on abuse. This is just hurting people like me, who can't swallow them whole.
And really, my opinion has always been that if someone wants to get high, they will...they'll find something new if they start doing this. There is always a way for a junkie to get a fix. And if they want to slowly kill themselves, I feel it's their right to do so. Just don't bring it to me.
It's annoying enough having to ASK to see a bottle of cold medicine.
no, it won't help. People will just swallow them. It will take them longer to feel the effects, but it will still work.
I know a ton of people who are pill poppers. They are so easy to get addicted to.
I think the best solution, and easiest, would be to quit prescribing them all the time!
WTF? Now what will I do if I need to split a pill in half because it's too big to swallow or I was only prescribed one half of the pill? I agree with @enterthelabyrinth@xanga on this issue.
if people want to fuck up their lives with prescription drugs, let them, there's no stopping them. The drug abusers can just swallow them or find some other crazy way to get high.
This is ridiculous. This won't stop anything. It just makes it more of a pain in the ass for us legitimate users.
There are some things that simply need to be crushed, not because we want to abuse it or get some kind of high, but because we need to in order to change absorption rates, etc. And people who would prefer to take half-dosages when there's a minimum dosage that requires cutting a pill in half.
I've heard it's becoming apparent that crossing the street is dangerous too. So, now the federal cross walk association is going to require a crossing guard at every intersection and it will be illegal to cross the street without a crossing guard.
This is a horrible idea. So what happens when these effects happen to someone who is using the drug properly, or can't swallow pills as @enterthelabyrinth@xanga mentioned? What other side effects will adding this stuff to pills cause? Will the additive cause a reaction that is fatal to someone at some point?
There should be nothing in the pills beyond what is necessary for the pill to function.
I agree with savingeagle! I know that there are times where I have to crush my pills and add them to coffee or something because they're too big. But to be honest, even the coating now, doesnt stop it and its pretty thick! I'd also hate to know what that rubber-coating does to the inside of your body!
I used to pop pills all the time. I still do when I can get my hands on them. But this wouldn't stop me. I usually swallow them anyways.
And to those of you saying it fucks up your lives, you're all idiots.
This idea sucks. I can't swallow pills.
Prescription drug abuse is huge and I am avidly against it-- however it has come to my impression that most people who abuse prescription pain killers, etc.. they just take more of them, they dont necessarily crush them up. Doctors should monitor how much medication they give out, not how the pills are made.
Instead of focusing on a temporary solution, I believe the medical field should get to the root of the prescription drug abusing problem. One contributing factor is that the people in the U.S. are way too heavily medicated. Doctors should realize that not every problem can be magically fixed with a drug. Maybe by doing so, people can go back to accepting medication as a last resort instead of a fix all.
I agree with everyone here. It won't stop drug abusers, and for those who can't swallow them whole it's an even worse idea. If someone wants to ruin their lives, let them and their family/friends worry about it; don't let everyone else suffer.
@MagisterTom@xanga - I agree. Most prescriptions already cause enough side effects, why the hell would the "Big Pharma" want to add more? Drugs are dangerous enough, especially considering that half of
all physicians graduated in the lower 50th percent of their classes. And really, putting this much consideration in to stopping abusers is taking needed funding away from creating new prescription drugs that are more effective.
It's just gotten to the point in this country that parents are babying their children so much that they'd die if someone didn't remind them to breathe, eat, and look both ways at a crossing.
In a world where people sue (and win!) McDonalds for making them fat...it's no surprise that our supposedly free market is being slowly and surely put under lock and key.
We didn't have this many problems 10, 20, 30 years ago...so I figure, with the world being overpopulated as it is, let's let nature take its course. It sounds mean, but really...if you're that dumb, you're kind of asking for it.
@black_lie@xanga - I didn't even think of that, but yes, many prescriptions are given in "half pill" increments....I know my mom takes a pill and a half of one prescription daily....this is just going to negatively impact those that use it right and cause those that abuse to look for less safe alternatives to get a high.
This entire country is turning in to elementary school. One kid messes up and breaks a chalkboard and then we all have to sit with our heads down in time out.
finally huh? how many people have died from popping pills....
That's fucking dumb. I need to crush my pills in order to take them.
@zxzeebrastar@xanga - I can't either. fuckholes
They should start making pills so that they can dissolve on your tongue. It can't be crushed and it also is convenient for someone like me who has difficulty swallowing pills.