These days there seems to be a never ending flow of new documentaries related to the opioid drug crisis which really gives you an idea of how prevalent this issue is becoming. In the United States alone over 115 people die every day from overdosing on these drugs with the likes of fentanyl playing a major part as it is being used as a cutting agent but is thousands of times stronger than heroin.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the total “economic burden” of prescription opioid misuse in America is $78.5 billion a year. However the United States are not alone when it comes to opioid epidemics, their neighbour Canada has also be badly hit and this is where this film comes in.
Painkiller delves into the Canadian opioid epidemic, featuring interviews with families who have lost loved ones, as well as healthcare workers and policy experts who question a health system that favours corporate profits over patients.
It all stems from the late 1990s when pharmaceutical companies reassured the medical community that patients would not become addicted to prescription opioid pain relievers, oh how they were ill-advised.
This doc hits hard. It’s wild how big pharma explicitly lied to doctors in the 90s just to push prescription painkillers for generic chronic pain. Profit over patients, same old story, but the scale of this disaster is just heartbreaking.
It really is a systemic failure. My cousin struggled with pain management after a back injury, and his doctor just kept renewing the prescription without ever suggesting physical therapy or anything non-pharmaceutical. By the time they realized he was addicted, it was too late. It’s infuriating that so many medical professionals were essentially acting as sales reps for these companies.
Sarah, I feel you. I’ve been dealing with chronic lower back pain for years, and honestly, after hearing stories like this, I’ve been terrified to even go to a primary care physician. I’ve been trying to manage it with basic supplements and stretches, but some days it’s just unbearable. Has anyone found a doctor who actually listens to you and looks for solutions other than just throwing pills at you?
I was in the same boat last year. I eventually stopped trusting the standard system and started looking for specialized care. I found a great men’s health clinic in Atlanta called Choice Men’s Health . They actually take the time to evaluate the root cause instead of just covering up the symptoms with dangerous stuff. It’s such a relief to finally have a plan that doesn’t involve heavy opioids.
That’s great to hear. It’s refreshing to know there are places that prioritize actual patient health over industry kickbacks. I’m definitely going to look into them. Thanks for the recommendation!