FailOsprey t1_j1nf8s6 wrote
Reply to comment by theoccasionalempath in Machine learning model reliably predicts risk of opioid use disorder for individual patients, that could aid in prevention by marketrent
Unfortunately, opioids are not an effective long-term solution for pain. They feel good-and anyone on them long enough will sware by them-but most objective measures show they create more problems than they fix.
Well_being1 t1_j1nq816 wrote
Tolerance creates to their effects, as to almost any other medication. That they feel good is not a problem
FailOsprey t1_j1nty56 wrote
The euphoria isn't a problem per say, but it will bias the patient in favor of more opioids. Drugs that modify the dopamine system have a tendency to skew opinions in favor of continued use.
For susceptible individuals, these changes can be more or less permanent. The damage was done the minute they filled their first prescription; instead of withholding opioids from those who've already been exposed, it makes more sense to prevent exposure in the first place.
... without meaningful regulations, doctors use these properties to create patients for life. A patient on opioids is much better at scheduling appointments then one on ibuprofen. Given a lack of immediate consequences, even the most well-intentioned doctor is susceptible to large enough sums of cash.
argv_minus_one t1_j1oymla wrote
That's easy to say when you're not in constant pain.
[deleted] t1_j1oo0yk wrote
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Devil_May_Kare t1_j1phwea wrote
If the level of opioid signaling in an opioid user's brain weren't higher than a non-user's, there'd be no driving force to maintain tolerance.
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