While Some See Promise in Drug, Others See Peril
Summary and Analysis…
The article presents examples of real-world cases demonstrating multiple unintended consequences associated with widely using addictive opioids, such as Suboxone, to treat opioid addiction. At the time the article was written, the community served by the newspaper was particularly focused on the issue because a story in the local news concerned a toddler who had suffered brain damage after exposure to Suboxone that had been illicitly obtained by his father.
The article sites local community experts who have direct experience with problems caused by Suboxone including life-threatening conditions for people who abuse painkillers or other drugs as well as FDA warnings that Suboxone itself can become addictive.
Excerpted from The Taos News
“A prescription medication designed to help heroin addicts kick their habit has become a street drug in its own right, according to local law enforcement and substance abuse prevention advocates.
“Though an unusually dramatic case, the toddler’s story is just one example of what many see as the perils underlying a drug also considered a great hope for those struggling with opiate addiction.
“And it is those perils that are serving as the counter argument to calls for broadening access to the medication and allow users to get their dose from doctors rather than dealers.”
