https://youtu.be/16l0N0tBSD0

While the United States continues to struggle with a nationwide opioid epidemic,  that has affected every race, class and gender in the country, there are forces at work that are fighting to block the legalization of medical marijuana which has been proven to help reduce pain and to help opioid addiction decline. The Pharmaceutical lobby in particular sees a threat and is taking action.

The opioid epidemic has largely been caused by people who are over prescribed pain medication pills. Following the expiration of the prescription, they switch over to cheaper heroin in order to substitute the opioids.

According to the latest stats available, opioids caused 18,893 deaths, followed by heroin overdoses which caused 10, 574 deaths in 2014. The state with the highest overdose rate is West Virginia, where after authorities have begun closing down on doctors who have been accused of overprescribing of pills, heroin has become the drug of choice for peopled hooked on opioids. “Back where I’m from there is nothing to do. There is no economy”, Jeff Kenser, who is a 41-year-old recovering addict in West Virginia said.  “People are going to doctors, getting scripts, and selling them on the street to survive.”

Mr. Kenser realized he had a problem after he overdosed in public on pills and in the subsequent police response, he flipped out and assaulted a police officer, which landed him 28 days in jail.  Mr. Kenser also described the plight of many communities that have been affected by opioid epidemic as his community has been.

The 41-year-old is a patient at the Chestnut Ridge Center for opiate-addiction, which has seen a steady increase in participants in its programs as the addiction crisis has risen steadily over the past two years.

Faculty at the facility use a combination of therapy and the drug buprenorphine which is used to help treat addicts. During recovery, the program has a goal for 90 days clean but that is difficult given that many addicts fail to remain clean in their first attempt at recovery.

“I destroyed my life”, Mr. Kenser continued in the interview. “I’m 41 years old and I have nothing because of drugs.”

Adding to the difficulty of fighting the opioid epidemic is the fact that a majority of the drugs that are prescribed are legal drugs only obtained by a doctor’s prescription, giving authorities little power to act against the doctors. Oxycodone is one of the most frequently abused drugs.

Even though the crisis has hit all walks of life, the epidemic has hit rural and poor area particular hard. Heroin Vicodin and Oxycodone has become the regular drugs of choice.

West Virginia, New Mexico and New Hampshire are the states with the top overdose rates in the country. With New Mexico having the second highest poverty rate at 21.3% and West Virginia having an 18.3% rate which lands West Virginia 7th highest.

“It’s affecting all levels of income” William Ihlenfeld said regarding the epidemic. Mr. Ihlenfeld is the U.S Attorney for the Northern District for West Virginia. Mr. Ihlenfeld continued, “All levels of incomes. All neighborhoods. It’s affecting everybody.”

In one particularly disturbing incident, 27 residents of Huntington West Virginia overdosed in 4 hours on Monday August 18th 2016. All 27 were from heroin.  “I do not know what it was laced with, but I would love to know at this point”, Cabell County EMS director, Gordon Merry said. It is speculated that the heroin was laced with something stronger causing what officials have labeled “mass casualty” event.

Spending Big

In the last two presidential elections, pharmaceutical companies have increased their spending. The spending ultimately hitting its high during the debate for the Affordable Care Act. Much of the spending going to Republican candidates who are seen as more favorable than Democrats, generally viewed as hostile toward the drug companies.

During the last two election cycles, 2012 and 2014, pharmaceutical companies spent 57% more on Republicans than on Democrats. Companies from the pharmaceutical companies have contributed $198,000 to campaigns during his political career. Making the contribution the most of any specific lobbying group.

The majority of the contributions to the Republicans also make it tougher for the legalization of both medical marijuana and recreational marijuana because of the fact that a majority of Republicans are against the legalization of pot. Colorado, Washington Oregon and Alaska are states that have legalized both recreational and medicinal marijuana. The cities of Portland and South Portland Maine along with Keego Maine have legalized pot as well.

The drug companies would be against such legalization because it would be another option for people to use in pain management following surgeries or accidents. It would be beneficial for the United States as a whole if more states made it easier for people who use medical marijuana and recreational marijuana, instead of making people choose between an illegal drug with relatively little side effects compared to the road of prescription pills and heroin.

Links to sources:

1. The Atlantic Link: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/10/the-new-heroin-epidemic/382020/
2. CNN Link: https://www.cnn.com/2016/08/17/health/west-virginia-city-has-27-heroin-overdoses-in-4-hours
3. wallst247 link: https://247wallst.com/special-report/2016/06/24/10-states-with-the-most-drug-overdoses/
4. PBS Frontline link: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/how-bad-is-the-opioid-epidemic/
5. Truth out Link: https://www.truth-out.org/news/item/33010-how-much-of-big-pharma-s-massive-profits-are-used-to-influence-politicians