Former Pharmaceutical Rep Details How Oxycontin Took Over

[@Chris-oz9qx]

Remember, the pharmaceutical industry was to be trusted and believed during the pandemic no matter what and if you didn't you were deemed the enemy.

[@DanielFrost79]

Indeed. No thank you, i wanna live.

[@bryanjensen2614]

@The wock No, we didn't.

[@godofthisshit]

@Chris Do you vow to never take anything the pharma industry ever produce?

[@layinlow77]

And most people just lined up.

[@yoshzlac2429]

Let's be Honest We all remember this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/enLGmpWKlLamrNE

[@liamh9814]

I was on a plane from Greece to France. I got sat next to an American accountant. She was doing an audit of a Greek factory that was making Oxycontin for the US market. She told me that demand was out of whack and that her drug company client was farming out production wherever it could. She said it was like the Golden Goose. She also said she hated doing the work because everyone knew the truth of how sales were predicated on addiction. Crime of the century?

[@Ryan88881]

Crime of the century? Severely limiting access to oxycodone and other opioids in the early to mid 2010s did far more damage than companies pushing it on people ever did.

[@gunnar4554]

That's dark.

[@aaronwebb1548]

Last century, sure. This century they're already working on forcing an even larger number of people into an even less useful drug, on threat of Genocide. Gonna be a good 20s and 30s again this century, fighting with authoritarians of all stripes; commies, fascists and best of all "neoliberals".

[@TheHigherVoltage]

How is free market capitalism 'the crime of the century'?

[@maxjohnson8659]

sounds like a Fight Club scenario

[@micheller3922]

When I got my wisdom teeth out, my mom, who is a nurse was, practically yelling at the nurse that she didn’t want me to get a prescription for oxy, but instead for Tylenol #3. The nurse kept insisting on oxy, but my mom stood her ground. Got the T3s and barely used them. I’m so thankful for my nurse mom!

[@TCH534]

Lmao give me the oxy. You wouldn’t be on them long enough to get a dependence.

[@MarksTournaments]

@@TCH534 playing with fire

[@TCH534]

@@MarksTournaments not as much as you think. Especially for wisdom teeth. You’re not on it long enough to get a dependence.

[@JeriDro]

yea my mom took the pills away from me too and I just had to take the pain

[@xx_TheGlitch_xx]

I would’ve been like mom hush… I would’ve acted completely naive Me to Nurse: 10mg oxycodone sounds good, can you explain what that is please.. nurse: well Oxycodon is a Opi… Me: I’ll take it

[@jordanbridenstine8372]

I had Oxy’s in 2010 for a serious and painful injury. After a month or so of being in intense pain everything subsided as I was healing but I kept taking the prescribed dose and started feeling intense Euphoria. I suddenly realized I was laying in a dark room doing nothing and shouldn’t be feeling this happy. Ended up flushing the rest down the toilet and taking extra strength OTC medicine. One of the best choices I’ve ever made. I’m grateful I realized something was wrong before it got out of control

[@drew425]

Pharmaceuticals in the water👹👹👹

[@NoName-np8ko]

@@drew425 Wish my kitchen faucet was pouring Oxy water...

[@khaoticgrumpy]

Consider yourself one of the lucky ones

[@gepo6882]

That’s is the best way to explain it. To explain drug addiction over all. You are in a dark room but you have this wild euphoria. And that dark room could be anywhere.. it could be under the bridge your dirty assss room or just ur miserable office at ur job. But the pill/drug just makes it ALL ok, but it doesn’t

[@4eversweetypie]

I did the same exact thing after having wisdom tooth pulled. Threw them out because I liked the feeling long after the oain was gone.😢

[@mayakay9734]

EDIT: Thank you everyone for your kind words! he sadly passed away recently to a heart attack and these comments gave me great comfort 💙 my dad was a former meth addict. he had 2 total knee replacements and the doctor prescribed oxy and all sort of pain meds. As a kid, i could never understand why he refused to take his meds and would rather endure the pain and stay sober. he was very strong

[@aureliusva]

Shit, they gave my church going mom 100 oxys after she specifically refused them.

[@cellwrkz8006]

@@aureliusva that's fucking evil

[@maryjane4432]

My dad was a double amputee and he refused to take Vicodin and Gabapentin. Busted his stitches trying to walk too soon. He was nuts

[@lonemaus562]

@@aureliusvatell her to hand them over

[@tylerlockard1685]

My mom was a former meth addict. She was in a minor car crash and tweaked her neck, was prescribed pain drugs and couldn't get enough of them. As an adult I always wonder why she chose the drugs over us. The initial descion to give in. Was she weak? Or never felt love.

[@OvercomeEverythingJosh]

My dad died of an overdose with his pain medicine in 2009. He was prescribed the non addictive drug known as OxyContin. RIP pops.

[@therealbigfoot3076]

Rip

[@OvercomeEverythingJosh]

@@therealbigfoot3076 thank you 🙏🏽

[@heyheywoahwoahhey]

I'm so sorry for your loss😔🙏🏼

[@enginecalibrationcode8779]

I was addicted to opiate pain meds for a while. I finally realized what was happening and thought to myself I should get one more script filled so I can tapper off. Nope, fully abused that script. After that, I decided to get off them completely no matter what. I quit cold turkey and the next 3 weeks were hell, but I prevailed and haven't touched them since. That was almost 9 years ago.

[@johnwoo667]

Did you ever watch the first Trainspotting? If so, how realistic was the withdrawal scene?

[@mrsmileyburris106]

Withdraw can get really bad it took me 3 months to get clean once it takes a lot of willpower to get off drugs or alcohol it’ll feel like you could just die at anytime my biggest problem was I couldn’t sleep but maybe 2 hours at a time it’s hard but do able .. If your on fentanyl or heroin that’s the hardest to kick I hear and if your trying to get off alcohol you need a doctors help I hear you could actually die going cold turkey I was always on pain medication I don’t remember the movie but if you can help it don’t abuse taper off and good luck I hope this helped a little

[@that1electrician]

When i was in rehab getting off of black tar, I felt had seeing all the guys come in that were strictly oxycontin. The stuff i was taking was 60% pure at best. The stuff they were taking was 100% pharma grade pure. Their withdrawals would last an entire month, but I would always bounce back after a week.

[@KClouisville]

@@mrsmileyburris106 Yeah, if one is a true physically dependent alcoholic....like a person who suffers DT's when they stop, they can die simply from the withdrawal. Also can happen with people physically addicted/dependent on benzos as well.

[@mrsmileyburris106]

@@KClouisville I didn’t think about the Benzo my brother in law used to get seizures when he wouldn’t take enough a very bad thing to experience someone going through if you haven’t yet thank you great piont

[@BGSDRM]

My father fell victim to this debilitating drug. He was very successful and built a million dollar company from the ground up. He came from nothing. Being the second person in Texas to receive a ceramic hip replacement, at the ripe age of 43, the doctor prescribed him pain medication. He got hooked and began using OxyContin as well. He ended up losing his company, got forced to retire from the fire department, and we lost my brother at the age of 31 (they were in the addiction together). Now, he is a completely different person. In my eyes he has the mind of a 4 year old. My poor mother has stuck with him through some horrendous years of withdrawals and wondering where our next meal might come from. His life is a perfect example of a doctor and pharm ripping the American dream away from a great man. Hope this reaches someone who might be going through what our family went through.

[@ZimmerKing]

If he was as smart as you claim he was, he wouldn't have been hooked on drugs. Addicts looking for ways to justify their failures. He had his chance and fumbled the ball. Blame him and no one else. Welcome back to broke life.

[@chungajuice1620]

@@ZimmerKinghe trusted his doctor to look out for his best interest and so took the doctor’s prescribed doses. The doses back then during the opioid epidemic were designed to make a patient addicted to OxyContin. If you listened and followed to your doctor’s instructions, you would become addicted through sheer human biology and pharmacology. That’s not his dad’s fault, his dad was set up for addiction by a professional he trusted. Have some perspective and empathy.

[@Godismiracles18]

People have choices man we gotta be tough as Americans and stop.whining amd take charge its no worse than budlight Alcohol its more addicting than anything so stop blaming and take responsibility and be tough Americans again

[@BGSDRM]

@@Godismiracles18 and go back to third grade to learn grammar and punctuation 😂

[@BGSDRM]

@@ZimmerKingthe same reason you’re broke. Not smart enough.

[@guitarcheology]

In 1997, my doctor was frustrated because I wasn't taking it every day for pain relief after a major accident. He gave me this lecture that concluded with "We have the technology to eliminate pain. You have the right to live a pain free life." He then handed me yet another prescription for it. I tore up that prescription and never went back to him. My next doctor tried really hard to talk me into taking it every day, but didn't push me as hard. I look back and am grateful I never went down that road they wanted me to go down. I lost friends to that shit.

[@maggaveli6764]

How are you today bro?

[@guitarcheology]

@@maggaveli6764 Living life acclimated to pain.

[@hypnotourist]

Man, you dodged that bullet. Good job.

[@ronin4160]

You lost friends but at least you didn't lose your life. Obligatory "just smoke weed bro lol" but to this day I've never heard of a stoner ODing and I've cold turkeyd several times for jobs and it's totally fine

[@brosskitchens]

Your lucky & smart!

[@_Dylanm]

Mad respect to this gentleman for pre loading his website with a list of sources for his JRE spot. I wish more guests had that kind of initiative.

[@guillermomedel1575]

As a web developer that made me smile

[@Newbobdole]

Yeah, it’s how I would do if I ever got on. Circumvent the awkward ‘Jamie searching for information’ interruptions

[@adriannune8241]

Source?? Trust me bro

[@LisaGWoods]

I can vouch for a lot of this. In the mid to late 90's I worked for a private nurse agency. A lot of ladies from their 60 to 80 yr olds started coming from Dr's with scripts of oxycontin. That's how it started, the teenagers were stealing and snorting grandma's pills. Some ODs. Kids have no sense. They don't know the difference between 20 and 80 mg!

[@killcha_in]

I thought that was awesome.

[@exodus146]

whats more crazy is that this is still happening, nothing has changed. These people need to be held accountable.

[@blackbuck4real]

No actually TONS have changed. It's changed SO MUCH in fact that is why China & Mexican Fentanyl and their anologues are here. Here killing 5Xs the people that OXIES ever could.

[@deadbeats4894]

They're one of the richest families in the world. They just pay money and eat and sleep great.

[@Bobby-rq5pe]

They want it to keep happening. Majority of deaths from it are white

[@fancyclown6863]

when the gov is being paid off, and pharma is making more money off drugs every year, how could this stop?

[@wowMush]

@@fancyclown6863 right.. it will never stop. Pain management is really needed for some people. The problem is the amount of money to be made. Greediness always wins in that battle.

[@WaylonAndST.MathyusDad35]

I prescribed Oxy at 16 after 2 root canals . I took one and was feeling good, my daddy ended up throwing them out and given me ibuprofen. One of the best things he ever did

[@politicallyincorrect2564]

Imagine giving you oxy instead of ibuprofen 😅 that doctor is a killer.

[@imrisqix6402]

Are you American if so how much extra do you have to pay for pay for oxy script over Ibuprofen

[@Musiclover-bg2nn]

I never let my kids take Oxy after wisdom teeth.

[@randomstuff-p5m]

@@imrisqix6402with basic health insurance I paid $5.22 for 20 “perc 5-325” pills

[@GingerCat_7]

We're not allowed to Rx Ocy in the dental office in Canada. Only ibuprofen and Tylenol

[@jeremywrentzel]

My own Father gave me my first oxy. we were smoking pot and watching Fringe, like we did every Thursday night(when it was airing), and he said "Take this, it will make you feel great" 10 years later, I woke up, living with a woman twice my age, I had nothing but debt, no real friends, no family left, and died once for several minutes. I'm 5 Years sober now, and I'll never touch an opiate again.

[@TimBowermeister]

Congrats on five years. 👋 That's awesome

[@eneveasi]

I’m proud of you for getting out bud. That life is so hard - but wow can you find good things going forward. Stay strong 💪🏼

[@NoOne-sn2si]

You were cougar prey! Lol! Glad you got sober, a life of addiction is pure hell.

[@jaymzpatterson2120]

Haha

[@cindystaff2932]

Great to hear that you’re sober!

[@logicaldude3611]

I was given Percocet for my wisdom teeth and OxyContin for an extremely minor hernia surgery… when I was 16 years old. I will never forget taking an Oxy and drinking some Baileys Irish Cream on my friend’s back porch and I literally felt like, “This is the best feeling a person can have, I’ll never feel anything better than this.” It’s f’ing terrifying that they can create something that powerful.

[@mikehuff9793]

16 mixing liquor and pain dope. Got started early

[@EnvisionedBlindness]

@@mikehuff9793 buddy, I was smoking spice and railing bathsalts when I was 14. He started late as far as im concerned

[@mikehuff9793]

@@samsonhaze6595 telling my story bro. How old are you now? I was 34 when I finally got sick and tired of being sick and tired.

[@mikehuff9793]

@@samsonhaze6595 yeah…sounds like you are making the turn. It’s possible. If my sorry ass can do it you can too. All begins with learning to love yourself guilt free. You are worth it…I promise

[@rachelh3250]

I got OxyContin after a surgery to remove my wisdom teeth at 14, my parents would only let me take half every other day or so before bed. It felt so good and I will never touch any other opiates because of it. I would of kept doing them. I still remember vividly and it was 9 years ago now

[@alexdel-toro323]

I had collar bone surgery from a motor bike accident and wouldn’t take any pain meds because my best friend was hooked and passed from counterfeits. And I never want my family of friends to lose me in such a way. He was such a good guy and they just took him.

[@edgarfc1916]

What are the odds the same thing happened to me down to the collar bone… small world

[@Proteinplunge]

Smart guy

[@vanitamann7985]

This is so enlightening, thank you so much! About 25 years ago I was in the backyard practicing soccer with our daughter. I kicked the ball and went down in horrible pain. When I went to the Dr. he said that I had severe fibromyalgia and prescribed morphine sulfate at first. I took it for a couple of years or so. He referred me to specialists and they prescribed other pain meds like oxycontin, hydrocodone, even fentanyl patches. Anyway, long story short, I started going to a new Dr and after a couple of years she ordered an MRI and other tests. What I had was very severe spinal stenosis. After back surgery I've been great. I do appreciate these videos, they are so informative. Thank you and Happy New Year!

[@photoboyjet]

I had a heart attack five years ago and while in the ER, was given a shot of morphine. It is hard to explain, but the drug hit immediately and all I could think was, "When are they going to give me another shot?". It wasn't like being high or drunk. I felt warm and happy and didn't even think about the heart attack. Fortunately, they didn't give me anymore. I totally understand how someone could spend their life chasing that feeling.

[@nicktesta20]

Yeah because its literally designed to make your brain feel perfect. Its so sad how many people are dead because of thks stuff. People who may have changed the world for the better.

[@sixscalemafia]

I had morphine at the er too and when I was home for about 3 days I kept wanting it and I never had it before they moment and I wanted it more than anything in the world. That was an uncanny experience.

[@johnyacks7690]

I can tell you from shameful experience that there is only one first time. anything after that can be called attempted suicide. or worse, actual suicide.

[@peanutbuttergirl6098]

I was given a shot of morphine in my IV while in the ER as well. I was incredibly sick and I swore I was going to die. You're right, it hit me immediately but there was no way I was able to stay awake. I passed out immediately for about an hour and a half. But I woke up feeling brand new with not a trace of pain. I never gave morphine another thought. I'm shocked that my body was so worked up that it needed a shot of morphine just to bring me back to normal.

[@Dt.1.KENOBI]

I got morphine in an IV while in the ER for a swollen spleen in a car accident. When the nurse inserted it…i told her that i can see a glow around her like “the last dragon”…it was funny…mightve gotten it once or twice more because i was admitted overnight. In retrospect…i can see why people become head over heels for it…i would never because i have self awareness.

[@johnnieblackburn3182]

I knew someone who was on tylenol/vicodin for years. She went to her pain doctor and told him that she wanted off of the vicodin, that she did not want to be a slave to pain drugs. The doctor switched her over to oxycotin. That was 12 years ago, and she is totally dependent on pain meds. So sad what they've done, and she has fallen to this.

[@Original-Juice]

My Uncle got into a bad car accident in 2002, had to get some hardware inserted into his pelvis area. It was extremely painful and he got hooked on Oxy immediately. He was such an addict that when he couldn't get any script re-filled, he bought it at street prices, then he resorted to Heroin. He overdosed and almost died in his kitchen while my sister called 911, thankfully she was nearby that day. At rehab he was coached to get off the Oxy by going to Methadone clinics. Of course at that point he become hooked on Methadone and here we are 20 years later, he's basically a vegetable. It's so saddening and our family offered so much help but it's past the point of no return. He's almost 75 and it's amazing that he's still breathing. I hate talking about the addiction he faced but it's a reality and I hope at least 1 person can read my message as a serious warning to get someone they love help.

[@trill3vacks]

I have just been in hospital with Covid. (34 year old female) and became absolutely hooked as the answer to acute Covid pain and also my chronic pain, and I changed; I couldn’t stop asking for it- it was unbelievable it just became the motivation behind all actions the brain just tricks you that you’re still in 8/10 pain; and you become hooked. When it wears off the agony is excruciating; you then seek more for that. Luckily in Australia my doctors caught on and tapered me down and off it and I now see the problem. People are not themseleves or thinking when in it; it hijacks them and their brain. So sorry for the loss of his quality of life due to this evil (and now lyrica is no better it’s even worse as their “new safe alternative “)

[@nickpaul3623]

Thus whole country needs help. America is an addiction based country.

[@ScottProductions843]

Your right man. I've been on methadone longer than I was doing heroin and oxys. The methadone did save my life. Suboxone didn't work for me. It sucks

[@Original-Juice]

@@ScottProductions843 sounds like you were on a similar path my uncle was on. The methadone probably saved his life but there's not much value at mid 70s for him, he's been slurring his speech for over a decade now. It's amazing he's alive. Like he's pickled or something crazy Good luck to you, I'm sure you've been through a lot!

[@BriteRory]

I've been on methadone for almost 9 years after using for 13 years, and concur with ScottProductions43 that it saved my life as well. People criticize it by saying that it only replaces one addiction for another, as if they're stating something unknown and revelatory. I'm on it because it took me out of a situation that the majority of my friends and several family members only got away from by dying, and it has enabled me to live a quiet, respectable life with my wife and children. There is no question that I am an active addict, but having my addiction regulated and maintained by a third party of nurses and doctors who fully understand the dynamics and complications of addiction as a legal alternative to the misery at street level in the Hieronymus Bosch-like nightmare established by the DEA is a substantial mercy for which I'm infinitely grateful. It is a shame to hear of your uncle; I have witnessed dozens of elderly in similar circumstances, overprescribed and barely coherent, both before I went into a clinic and after, but this is generally a matter of personal choice where some people simply cannot tolerate the manic chaos of their non-anesthetized conscious minds. There are exceptions I'm sure and any doctor who is complicit in raising the dose in a stupefied patient who can hardly function is irresponsible and extraordinarily dangerous, but thankfully in my area this isn't the scene. My relationship with and perspective on drugs is one of intense curiosity and fascination, and think it ought to be a matter of private concern what a man or woman consumes in their diet, but given the profound criminal consequences invented by manipulative sociopaths nearly a century ago it is now the worlds business, and I acquiesce by respectfully complying with the law, dehumanizing and corrupt as I believe it to be.

[@FrankO-ek1ec]

Addicted for 5 years, fully functioning junky, never stole, snorted or turned to heroin, went to work everyday. I consider myself very lucky.

[@runslaps6994]

U never said your off it

[@phyaH828]

Id say this is the best episode ever. This whole episode should be played on TV nonstop for months.

[@joseywales4638]

Oxycontin killed my best friend when we were 20 years old. It's been 25 years since then and I still miss the hell out of him.

[@nuggetdoozy7831]

😢

[@michaelj6392]

That sucks man, I’m sorry.

[@bw-rx1qd]

RIP to your friend ❤

[@DylPiickles]

Sorry for your loss, brother… ❤ When can we class action sue these mofos????

[@jimmymoron944]

Sorry man......

[@KyleKendall71]

Dude...i am watching the full interview...this guy is blowing it up more than any documentary or movie. He lived it and has actual experience...this should be MUST watch for everyone, not a specific group, everyone.

[@chickan10281]

Yeah. I kinda had a general idea about how corrupt it is but this is just disturbing. Makes me not trust anybody and concerned for the people. Especially after a long period of time passed after these covid vaccines

[@KyleKendall71]

@Emotional Damage ?

[@amorgan5844]

But he is pretty misinformed, which will bite him when people watch this. He said they did not do human trials for OC which is a lie, there is a documented case study with 133 patients from 1993 to 1994 that used specifically OC and didnt "piggyback". He then stated they changed a chemical compound in hydrocdne (mispelled to keep from deleting) to make OC, that is not true either, OC was invented by adding a time release agent to oxycdne. Hydrocdne wasnt invented by Purdue pharma it was invented by knoll pharmaceutical (Abbott Laboratories). I like that he is bringing it all to the big stage, but he really needs to make sure its polished and careful not to mispeak on such an important storyline that needs to reach the masses.

[@amorgan5844]

@@KyleKendall71 also @emotional damage is a bot, dont mind him he just doing what bots do.

[@closinginonclosure]

Just a friendly reminder to not take things at face value just because you hear a guy say them. What he's lived or his experience aside. He injects opinion and false or inaccurate information into multiple things he discusses. With all due respect, he's just not the most intelligent individual. I mean, at 0:56 he says "upper echelOM" instead of echelon. You have to do you own research and form your own opinions. Maybe not the best comparison, but I had a near death experience and its a true miracle I'm alive today. I'm not going to pretend I have all of the answers or I'm some authority on surviving a near death experience just because I flatlined over two dozen times, was on life support, and came out the other side. My point is, not with just him, but with most people. You can't just hear what they say and assume it's fact.

[@nickyhustle]

Joe is the GOAT of Podcasting for many reasons but the biggest and most noticeable difference is the fact that he will let his guests speak at free will and is working his questions around them and letting them help him build this great, interesting conversation. That we watch and know and love. JRE is my favorite for so many reasons

[@jeffwheat8559]

Wow, as a former foster kid this video answered a lot of questions I had. I was “diagnosed” ADHD at a young age, and also placed on Ritalin as early as in middle school. In high school I wasn’t medicated and I feel I should’ve been bc I was ALL over the place. I found meditation my high school graduation year, and ive been practicing it since. 2016 was a year I woke up, and I started to work on my inner child. I am a twin, and I realized that my other bro got most of the attention, and not me as my sisters told me growing up. The panic mode he talks about is real-when you don’t get that motherly love- what the affects are. My birth mom was always drunk or on drugs so we were neglected. I feel pain a lot of the time, and I’m 26. Everything in this video woke me up to help me realize what I truly live with on the daily. I am seeing a psychiatrist again come this week and I’ll expand on allot of what I learned here.

[@ESRDWarrior]

Brother, I too grew up in foster care and group homes from about 4 or 5 till I was 18 and around 4 or so i was diagnosed with extreme ADHD and personality disorders to which I was put on adult doses of shit like mood stabilizers anti psychotic drugs ritalin lithium anti depressants anxiety meds Adderall...so much shit shoved into my little body that when i was 24 I was diagnosed with end stage kidney failure and they assume I was sick since I was 16 or so, my kidneys failed because of the high doses of drugs the doctors put me on..I am a product of the 90s, born in 87..I was a test subject and Im paying for their actions now and it will most likely be the reason I die.. because of them my body is basically a time bomb..I pray peace and healing for you and all of us who have been wronged by big pharma..💜😞

[@ESRDWarrior]

@First Last as I look back I feel the same way..I think wow I was a baby brained child who needed to develope skills to fight the insane hyper energy I had, not be zombified to the point I slept thru my first 3 classes in school for like 7 or 8 years and I couldnt controll it, to the point that they set a desk out in the hall so I could nap peacefully and not disturb the entire class, My IEP stuff made it so I didnt get in trouble for that since it was medicine that caused me to clock out for like 3.5hrs a school day, i had pass or fail grading based on the work I was able to do while awake and that ...meh..I look back and am just stunned at how much shit they had me on and wish I could go back and tell tiny me not to take all that crap even if it got me into trouble. But then when I did that the foster parents would hold me down and force me to take them..So I dont think it would help 😕

[@thestu4602]

For adhd relief, try adjusting diet, test for celiac to exclude but then adopt Gluten free.

[@thestu4602]

@First Last why do you think society is going to help you, help yourself

[@schanychamemphis1327]

I am so sorry you did not get what every child needs and deserved. Take good care of yourself.

[@tieiatalks]

August 24 of this year was my last dose of OxyContin. I have been on pain management for 15 years and when I raised concerns with a pain management doctor telling him I was concerned by how much I was taking he told me, basically, that if I didn’t want to follow his protocol I could get the fuck out of his practice. So I did. I was on such high doses that it would take me a full year to taper off and even with the slow taper, the first three weeks after stopping the drugs, I still was pretty miserable with really weird side effects. I wish the doctors would address the root cause of the pain rather than throwing pain medication at it. It’s sinister.

[@soulfuzz368]

Wha do you think the root cause is?

[@JP-xs5lo]

Ya that would be nice to treat the root cause whatever it is are medical system is broken. I found out first hand we need stem cell therapy widely available

[@bryantg7641]

I'm with you brother, and I'm terribly sorry for your struggle but I'm glad that it sounds like you're doing well. I feel like for any doctor to be able to write and prescribe this crazy medication they need to have been addicted to it, and or have had to deal with being dope sick because of it before they are allowed to prescribe it.

[@patient8098]

Psychosis from this drug is extremely brutal! Stay strong!

[@liggerstuxin1]

Pain is so subjective and tricky to treat

[@Voyeurrrr]

I remember reps made a testimonial video for doctors about the wonders of OxyContin. Patients with chronic pain testified that they could go longer without having to dose and it better treated their pain. Someone tracked down every person in that testimonial and some were in prison but most were dead from overdose. Before overdosing, they lived the life and pain of classic junkies and their families endured along with them. It was so sad.

[@truthwithes6690]

Wow

[@rainbowodysseybyjonlion]

Do you have a name or link for that video?

[@Voyeurrrr]

@@rainbowodysseybyjonlion type in the search on KZbin “OxyContin testimonial”

[@firstlast8258]

It’s funny asf

[@JeriDro]

This is the type of Joe content I like, there is so much stuff like this out there that needs to be brought to light.

[@wesv8743]

It's really close to home for me as well have lost 3 friends to addiction to pain meds. I got Addicted by having some back pain and then having some dental issues and realized I could do anything with a couple hydrocodone and then I learned about percocets and then I went to Oxys to the point of spending sometimes $300 a day just to keep my addiction alive.. thank God and my family for sticking by me and I finally got clean nearly six years ago. It will grab ahold of you and make you think there is no other way to get through your day. Please keep talking about it and bringing these assholes to light

[@likemy]

this video perfectly captures what made the youtube episodes better than the spotify episodes: The comments. As skilled a storyteller as Brigham is, nothing can truly capture the human impact of this crisis the way these thousands of comments have. Thanks to the people sharing their stories--our society was too late for some of your friends and family, but your stories are giving younger people the vigilance they'll need to steer clear of this stuff.

[@gxlorp]

"Made" past tense? The clips are still on KZbin which provides the same functionality. The actual medium on Spotify is the same. Play pause etc. This platform doesn't deserve high praise. They were just the first to be super successful and have advanced ai algorithms available... lots of bandwidth... but they are geopolitically implicated. Certain words and topics are banned. 20 years ago, even 3 years ago this would have been unthinkable to many reasonable people. Psychology.

[@ThatMichaelTGuy]

Well said.

[@boromirofmiddleearth557]

true

[@MikeAIright]

Andrew Yang the asian guy running for president pointed this over dose epidemic problem out years ago.

[@jzen1455]

This dude has some good points with his insider perspective of big pharma. However, the dude is also a shill for his own questionable health bro-gram.

[@Vgallo]

I had stage 4 cancer and I’d had a history of heroin addiction, I refused the morphine they offered me for a week when I was in agony, because I had tumours pushing on my spine. Going through opiate withdrawals was by far the hardest thing I’d ever been through , ( yes much much harder than stage 4 cancer) So I didn’t want to get addicted again no matter what - so they convinced me to take it by saying “ you can’t get addicted if you take it for pain”, 10 years later I’m still on suboxone after being totally clean before my cancer. Edit: Since my comment has gotten more attention than I initially predicted, I figure it’s cogent to put forward a bit more background info. There’s more below in the comments. After I finished chemo I had to return to work straight away cuz my partner got fired for taking too much time off to visit me in the icu - they told her at the time to get everything prepared cuz I probably wouldn’t make it, so spending time with me was a priority for her, she was managing all our finances - everything all by herself, we’ve never had family support, we both came from abusive homes, in many ways I think my cancer was much harder on her- in fact I’m 100% sure it was. So when I finished chemo I had to return to work to pay off the debt and prevent us from losing our car and house, I had no time to go to detox. 10 years later I still haven’t had time to take 3 months off from life, especially now that I have a disabled autistic level 2 - 3 year old son ( probably caused by the chemo I had) & a sick wife.

[@Vgallo]

@@happytobehere1111 thank you 😊

[@Lateralus665]

Congratulations, buddy. Stay safe.

[@davidkruse4030]

That was stupid. You are still on an opioid.

[@chrisbeiler7237]

Prayers

[@tammynfletcher]

Just a warning there doing the same thing with subs! I was on them for 7 years my doctor made us take the real ones and didn't allow generics. I had no insurance and didn't want to go back down the opiate road so I shelled out 1200$ a month for my script and 200$ a month cash money to the doctor. He had me on 24mg a day! Told me I was a candidate for being on them for the rest of my life. Found out later on he was getting kick backs for making sure he prescribed name brand only. Anyway my doctor got terminal cancer and closed his clinic with 2 weeks notice, every clinic around was full I got my last prescription and tried to ween myself down for 2 months I got down to 16mg a day and figured I would just man up and go cold turkey, I done it with oxys and heroin twice before. It's taken almost 1.5 years to feel normal again. Granted as normal as a 45 year old recovering alcoholic and junkie can feel LOL! Subs get into your bones my friend it was the worst withdrawal I'd ever been through and whatever it does to your brain chemistry is crazy! I'm sure you've already had" the I don't give a "!@#$%"'s , they seem to take all your emotions and hide them! Sorry to make a short comment long but when I seen how long you'd been on them I know what your in for when you do have to get off them! They did keep me from using drugs so they have a purpose. But in my personal opinion they need to be used as designed 28 day opiate withdrawal!

[@thecreekrat69]

My dad worked in the coal mines, but what started it was he got threw off a horse. Messed his back up, even got knocked out. Plus pre existing pain from the mines, and breaking his neck in when he was a kid. I vividly remember him driving around the county going to different doctors getting several different prescription for Oxys. I’ve had my doctor tell me he knows other doctors that where offered vacations for telling people oxys wasn’t addictive. It’s crazy what these people got away with. My dad honestly done pretty good for a opiate addict but his life could have done so much better without a crippling opiate addiction. I remember this man being so sick sometimes he would shit hisself on the couch. And the thing is even those opans that you’re not supposed to snort. They are ways around that even. Plus you can literally melt them down in a needle and shoot them up. I would honestly like to know what percentage of coal miners and lumber workers in South West Virginia, West Virginia, and Eastern Kentucky had a prescription for oxys in the early 2000s. Hell anyone in the area really. I lived through it, they where handing that shit out like candy.

[@monicamichael5909]

You gotta watch Dopesick if you haven’t! It’s set in the same area and there’s even a coal miner who gets hooked

[@nfapeng187]

Many did including myself, i am from Ohio. Borderline of PA, and WV. Can get into either state in 2 mins. My entire family worked for a company called Rosebud mining. Its no longer around but everybody and their mother had gotten oxy's. Was a phase just like everything else. Id say just about everyone who did hard-work and had hard injuries to even minor ones were given that stuff sadly. So many shows on it now.

[@10rcoleman]

I worked for a trucking company we hauled coal and that was a way they would pay you if you wanted I knew a few that got paid in oxys

[@IIXxx_juliet_xxXII]

I lost my older brother because of Oxy. He was only 43. He died days before his birthday, leaving behind 2 young sons. Thank you for exposing this evil.

[@johndemunnik2812]

Thank you for sharing, sorry for your loss.

[@tumbleweedtony1796]

😡🙏

[@progrockmorelikefrogc0ck157]

Hundreds of thousads of stories just like this yet they expected blind faith in these companies during the scam

[@antagonizerr]

My cousin took his own life because the new war on opiates meant that NO doctor would prescribe him pain killers for chronic arthritic pain instead dumping him with barely effective meds with such screwed up side effects that they were worse than the disease. The troubles go both ways bro.

[@jimmymoron944]

Sorry.....

[@martensmade-it]

I was prescribed 180 oxycodone 20mg and 90 methadone 10mg a month for about 5 years for a back injurie. I was extremely overprescribed by my doctor but in his defense I also never asked to get tapered down I loved the euphoric feeling they gave me. Then one day in 2014 or15 he said he could no longer prescribe them to me because I was to young and need to do physical therapy for the pain which he was right. He winged me down in like 3months cutting my prescription in half each month. At this I felt like I was dying and my bones where just breaking my whole my body hurt forever until I was interduce to something I said I would NEVER do heroin. Within maybe 5 times of snorting it I went straight to shooting that right into my veins. After maybe a few months lost my job and started selling the dope to afford to pay for my high. Two years of selling heroin I was wired up on by a CI and I was arrested on 3 counts of dealing narcotics a level 5 felony. Served 3 in Westville prison probably best thing that could of happened to me cause without a doubt I would be dead there's no way I can even fathom another scenario. I've lost more friends than I can count to prescription pills and dope which is the same thing.

[@randyross5630]

I never Did Dope, and only a few mg of Pain Pills to clean up the Dirty Buzz of Beer Drinking, However almost everyone I knew was doing Dope by the time I bailed on the area, many had died, and it took about the Whole of my Twenties from me, because I lost everyone I knew to addiction, and not even by ODs, but just being the Odd Man Out for So Many Years, we just weren't Friends anymore...

[@rumham8124]

Trust in God and you'll never have to worry about a relapse. Glad you got out of that life, it sounds like hell! God Bless

[@undeny]

Hey man I just wanna say I'm proud of you as a fellow former addict that you beat this thing. Life is all about picking yourself up. You will make new friends. Every day forward is a victory, it's time to get ambitious and hope for the future. You can do it!

[@jefe58]

It took him 5 years to say you’re too young ?

[@romanthomas2748]

You're story is a really familiar story. I'm talking as an ex heroine and methadone and tablet addict . The withdrawals are out of this world. I know people who have killed them selves in jail coming off herion.

[@freedomringsthebell]

This is one of the most important factual conversations that need to be known by everyone everywhere!

[@Louisiana1975]

After a leg amputation in 2006, I stayed addicted to hydrocodones for 5 years & Oxy for the last year before I weaned myself off of it. This was during the peak of what this man is talking about. I was very lucky

[@Ye4rZero]

This guy is a great guest, he's so open and honest

[@russellbranham4868]

This interview hits home for me. As a severely abused child, i was already being put through the pharmaceutical gamut, in grade school. A whole cocktail of drugs that didnt help me at all, and in fact, made me feel suicidal and homicidal. Somehow, i kept my chit together, and never hurt anyone. Finally, in my 20's, im able to gradually wean myself off of the Lithium, Ritalin, Seroquel and SSRI drugs. At the time, that was the biggest challenge that i was ever able to overcome. After weaning off of them, it felt like my brain chemistry was altered. Id have these frequent sensations of what i can only describe as "electrical surges" in my head, and I had even worse experience concentrating, than I ever did before. Depression was taking over, and panic attacks were a way of life. Fast forward a few years, and my scoliosis, spinal stenosis, and herniated discs became too painful to manage with OTC meds. So, I visit my local Chiropractor, who did really help my pain tremendously, but even that wasnt enough to eliminate my pain. Begrudgingly, I turned back to the industry that had already negatively impacted my life, before. I started going to a pain doctor. I was prescribed 90 of the 10mg NORCOS, and 30 of the 20mg oxycodone pills. Knowing what I know now, thats A LOT of dope to start someone out on. I was also being prescribed 10mg klonopin, for my panic attacks. When I began the pain pill regimen, it felt like a god-send. Not only was most of my pain gone, but I felt MUCH better, psychologically. The "surges" stopped. The panic attacks became less frequent. Life seemed to be operating at a higher quality than ever. Then came the physical problems, and then came the government. My liver was rapidly deteriorating, and I became so constipated, that I would fill the toilet with blood, trying to relieve myself. Yes, I tried weaning myself off of these new chemicals, and that became the NEXT biggest medical challenge of my life. I would become so "dope sick" and my mind was absolutely unable to function. I couldnt work. I couldnt be around people. I couldnt be social. These medications were controlling me, with an iron fist. Relationships were being destroyed, as the sickness made me unpleasant to be around, and when I WAS medicated, my temper would get the best of me, over and over again. Id explode over the smallest thing. I ended up being in a really bad wreck, that damaged my neck, so now my pain burden was even greater! I was still determined to shed this pharmaceutical demon, somehow. I started researching natural alternatives. During this time, the government CRACKED DOWN on doctors that were prescribing these meds, making them fearful to lose their practice, and/or being imprisoned. SO, now my doctor cut me off, and other doctors refused to prescribe. Anyone with even the TINYEST bit of medical knowledge knows that you dont just "cut" patients off, you TAPER them off. So now, im forced to turn to the streets, and guess what? ALL of those meds were still somehow PLENTIFUL on the streets, but where MUCH more expensive, and dangerous to acquire. Imagine that. Thankfully, I never turned to heroin, but I honestly did every other kind of opiate, including fentanyl patches, when they first hit the market. I was tired of living this way. Still determined to find a way out of this Big Pharma trap, I finally hear about "Kratom" mitragyna speciosa, and how it mimics the pain relieving effects of opiates. I have LONG been a gardener and a plant enthusiast, and lived in a warm enough zone to be able to grow this plant, so grow it, I did. THIS was the game changer that I needed. This little leaf, from the coffee family, enabled me to COMPLETELY wean off of every single opiate, and in doing so, my liver function improved, my stool became regular again, Id no longer become dopesick, to where id grip for a dose, and my pain was largely under control. That was 6 years ago. I am still pain pill free, minus the occasional ibuprofen. I have so much wrong with my body, that I will indeed ALWAYS be on some kind of relief substance, but this move, for me, was all about harm reduction, and being the master of my own body and destiny, medically speaking. I now live a normal life, without all of the drama, and the drug seeking. I couldnt be more grateful for this plant. Nature had the answer, and I was fortunate enough to find it. Of course, the government has TRIED HARD to ban this plant. Citing "addiction" and the "war on opiates" as fuel for its efforts. The reality is that this plant was helping people get their lives back, and the governments Big Pharma overlords couldnt be having that! After a life long WAR with Big Pharma, it was a NO-BRAINER for me, when they tried to FORCE their C19 vaccines on us. I already knew the score. There was NO WAY IN HELL theyd be able to coerce me into falling back into their trap. It turned out that SSRI drugs were a FARCE, based on junk science, the pain meds were absolute POISON, but I was supposed to just "trust the science" and put their newest concoction into my body? NO! NEVER AGAIN.

[@Shrimpyyyyyyyy]

Thank you for sharing your story. I’m so happy you are doing better now ❤

[@russellbranham4868]

@@Shrimpyyyyyyyy thank you!

[@Nancysoulshine]

Wow...10 mg. Klonopin! That's a really tough med to come off of.

[@vijeshgandhi2961]

My god, what a story! I'm speechless. Thank you for sharing. I'm glad you're in a better place.

[@russellbranham4868]

@@vijeshgandhi2961 thank you so much 🙏

[@Hogbellylife]

The oxycontin push is why I became a opioid addiction. 15 years clean now but I'm lucky to be alive.

[@boomergroomer1996]

It's really annoying how so many junkies ruined this wonderful product for people like me who have chronic health problems.

[@karenburns9952]

@@boomergroomer1996 it’s the people who make the laws ruining for real patients with real doctors.

[@user-yp2oc2mv8m]

Thank you for letting us know about this.

[@marshallplan651]

The bonus structure for physicians was appalling.

[@gregoryhawsjr3479]

Yep. These drs we’re giving out tons of pills. That’s why they discontinued the 160mg pill. Then reformulated the oc to op. That’s one reason people went to heroin, or the street prices were so ridiculous. People jumped to heroin. It’s sad that money got the sackler family profited so much. Remember that’s only one drug they made 12 billion off. They do antibiotics. U name it. SMH

[@kathigortman4074]

People would be shocked if they knew how true this is.😔

[@Shrimpyyyyyyyy]

Still exists for loads of psych meds

[@JL-pm1sx]

My younger brother and a large amount of his friends fell victim to people pushing oxy and fentanyl on the streets of my small town. It started to show up about 12 years ago when they were still in high school and since then 6 of his friends that I knew personally have passed due to overdose and addiction. My brother has battled addiction most of his life since then but has turned himself around thank god. Prayers for anyone going through addiction or anyone who has family affected by this so sad.

[@scdrescher1]

The whole Purdue pharma/Sackler trial had some amazing details brought to light. These guys, if I’m not mistaken, also make narcan which is used to temporarily block opioid receptors effectively “reversing” the overdose. Then, they make suboxone which is supposed to help addicted patients become not addicted. Essentially, they get you hooked then create a drug that keeps you alive in case you accidentally overdose so you can keep on taking the drug. Then they make a drug to help you become less addicted so they can appear to be helping alleviate the problem. From a financial perspective it’s brilliant. Whether you live or die they make billions. Not to mention the testimony from the trial where a pharma rep said they were told to hire strippers to give lap dances to physicians who were not prescribing enough. These people should be stripped of the money they made killing people and it should be given to those whose lives they destroyed….then they should be hanged.

[@abc33944]

I agree with you 100% .. .., our creator is watching .. they will have to deal with him in good time !

[@damonleonard4886]

They create the problem and come in with a solution to make themselves heros, thats the best way to describe it

[@FathomlessJoy]

Actually some details left out are that Purdue developed, using over $100 million in R&D, a abuse-resistant formula for Oxycotin in 2003. While they could guarantee it would release a opioid blocker if the pill was snorted, smoked, or shot, they could only guarantee than in 99% of the oral doses, that the inhibitor would not be release, meaning that in 1% of the oral doses, the patient would not receive the painkiller. Why did they not release this formula to the masses? The FDA wouldn't approve it, because it was not 100% guaranteed a legit oral dose would receive the medicine, only 99%. So essentially, the US government could have prevented nearly all Oxy overdoses and addictions post 2003 and did not. Why? They were making too much money on their Schedule 2 control of the original drug and extorting money from the Sacklers.

[@jasonvadeboncoeur5870]

Was it the Sackler family who invented Valium?

[@scdrescher1]

@@jasonvadeboncoeur5870 don’t think so. I’d have to research it but I’m pretty sure the Sacklers don’t have a monopoly on avarice so it wouldn’t surprise me if someone else was making billions killing people. Hell, just look at vioxx. The list goes on.

[@bobturner3388]

I had a great medical career before I was prescribed Opioids in 1994.for kidney stones. It took my career, my marriage and 12 yrs. of craziness before I got my life back. What bothers me most isn't that I lost my medical career, not that I lost my marriage and not that I lost 12yrs of my life. What really upset me was how the medical community looked down on me when I wanted help in getting off of this shit! Not to mention the $10,000 it cost to get my teeth straightened out related to decay caused by opioid addiction. Today I'm retired and doing well both financially and physically. Not by any help from the medical community but by the rooms of AA and NA. As I sit here typing I proudly have 17yrs sobriety as of June this year. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. These pharmaceutical companies need to pay along with our government (FDA) for allowing these abuses to continue.

[@gelonmyshit9803]

Imagine those like you who refused to take the "Vaccine" and what the Medical community did to them. Especially now, that the they are normalizing heart attacks in kids, people are dying, people are maimed and crippled and the medical machine is ignoring them

[@sherieharkins2460]

Hearing about the rep convincing doctors they had to “stop the pain” makes me think again of how often our critical thinking is hijacked by appealing to compassion.

[@ndjndxs7285]

The art of selling involves using emotions, and all species run on emotions, a decent argument on if there is a free will or not.

[@ronjones2266]

Well put.

[@IhaveaDoghouse]

@@ndjndxs7285 all species run on emotions? What is your source?

[@Jukeboksi]

Oh it doesn't stop at compassion, and oh most people aren't using critical thinking to begin with

[@rickmckee8270]

When you have chronic pain nothing will stop the pain,all you can hope for is that medications that reduce the level of pain to a more manageable level.

[@pawtucketpanda]

My dad was a pharmaceutical rep from the time I was a baby til I was 14. Snooped through his phone one night and learned, in the instance he sent this text, that he was "proud that he used to manipulate doctors into selling old ladies pain pills." Apparently at some point my dad started taking pain pills on nights out and realized he was having the time of his life. He had an affair and at some point ended up addicted to oxy. He was arrested the night before my 14th birthday party for forging scripts at a local pharmacy, apparently facing a long prison sentence but got away with drug court. He lost his job and went on disability and we rarely has food in our house after that. It also seemed like, after that point, he didn't care about much besides getting high. A few years later my mom divorced him and he stopped paying the mortgage (that he couldn't afford on disability anyway.) He has smoked cigs, pills off of foil and spent most of the day nodded out for what feels like as long as I've known him. He's in congestive heart failure in his 50s and will probably die one day nodded out, alone, with a cig burning the carpet underneath him. The only one who might be around is my little brother to find his body. My message to anyone (fuck, might as well be everyone) who's struggling to push through all the bullshit life throws at you and is considering drugs for relief: I would say: consider the people around you who will be negatively affected by it like my dad's family was (and me). And if you don't have anyone like that, at least take care of yourself and consider the good things that can come in the future that those drugs will easily take away from you.

[@ambassador8524]

Wow Ty for sharing

[@jamesmayle3787]

The Bible is truth. Please read at least three books of the Bible, Genesis Mathew and one book you chose yourself. It is important that as you do, open your heart and forgive. That’s what makes it all click. Work though those issues with your parents. It’s important. They love you. Probably. It’s important to god at least. Forgiveness heals your soul. It’s a great thing to do for yourself. Also, break down before Jesus Christ and ask for forgiveness. These four steps are important keys. Faith is actions based on belief. Please do. All who seek find. Jesus Christ is Lord.

[@JoeMama-sy8cg]

What did mean when you said "got away with drug court"?

[@kraig6043]

@@JoeMama-sy8cg probably lesser of a punishment as apposed to criminal court. Probably more about treatment than punishment in prison. Idk 🤷

[@JoeMama-sy8cg]

@@kraig6043 I didn't know there was such a thing as drug court.

[@mattburton3233]

this was encouraged even at the health care level. as an RN we were told to not question a persons pain level or whether they were manipulating to get more drugs. it was too ingrained that the pain level was considered another vital sign.

[@luciusvorenus9445]

I was working in EMS when "The War on Pain" started. We were trained that pain was the "Fifth Vital Sign" after pulse, respiration, blood pressure and temperature (or skin condition). It was in all the continuing education and all publications. A patient in pain, even in a non-traumatic injury situation was considered a rapid transport to the ER situation. It was hammered into our heads during Audit & Review of Run Reports. Then the Opioid Epidemic became the focus and the Fifth Vital Sign emphasis vanish. Every patient, including ones with long term chronic pain issues were regarded with suspicion and deemed "Drug Seekers". It has been a horrific ordeal for long term chronic pain suffers. An utter mess.

[@onefishfrank9145]

Were you instructed to follow JCAHO (Joint Commission's) Pain Standards?

[@luciusvorenus9445]

@@onefishfrank9145 We followed the Written Protocols from our Medical Director as we were practicing on his Medical License.

[@NoOne-sn2si]

This is cyclical... Every 20-30 years, the prescribing of pain medication goes from geatapo tactics and no one gets prescribed pain meds, to a free for all where any ailment gets prescribed opiates. It looks like the authorities are swinging the other way now because of all the people addicted to pain meds. The pigs are happy though, as now there are many more "criminal" addicts that the pigs can make money off of now. It's completely disgusting how a medical condition is treated as a criminal issue

[@JP-ec9rl]

I'm 46 years old, in pain from wake up to sleep, wrench on big rigs every day and don't even take aspirin. Pain is a state of mind and the cure for it is motion.

[@jonathanalpart7812]

@@JP-ec9rl wow dude you figured it out! Good for you

[@markmiller4595]

This guy's description of being a pharma rep is spot on. The company fills its reps full of koolaid, and then the reps go out and pour it into doctors cups. What a game.

[@CameronDC-Grimes]

Just like the news

[@garden0fstone736]

Must’ve been a great job

[@davidjones8043]

Nzndns

[@riothero313]

By brother is a doctor and my sister in-law is a nurse practitioner. From time to time I watch their house for them and it is absolutely insane the amount of junk mail they get from pharmaceutical companies. It's nonstop.

[@Weekenday]

My mom does this. She knows pretty much every Dr in the city and neighboring city's

[@kelynopel1191]

this world is so messed up. As i become older the amount of corruption behind the scenes in all aspects of life sickens me.

[@timothyandrewnielsen]

Everything you were ever taught is a lie. (besides the obvious things that science can prove; and not including religion)

[@prophecy9070]

That’s the world we live in.. everything’s a facade

[@r.m5883]

Devil is real, original sin is real. We aren’t born good, but bad. And it sickens you because you yearn for heaven and perfection.

[@businessphone7905]

Lost my best friend from this. He was a carpenter, fell off a roof onto the floor underneath. Was prescribed oxycontin, watched as his life slipped away from him. Left a fiancee and two beautiful kids behind. That was 20+ years ago. I got to meet both the grandsons he never will. Miss that dude all the time. Come to think about it, just lost another friend who committed suicide after losing his family, marriage, everything after his first born overdosed, who started down the road with oxycontin. Met my other friends son for the first time in an urn oh a shelf. Lost him to opiates, which started with prescription opiates. Fuck the entire Sackler family and pharma in general.

[@macmoney88]

I watched that documentary he referenced. It’s very shameful that this country allows companies to operate like this

[@tumbleweedtony1796]

Now ask yourself what is really going on with fentanyl 🧐

[@robertlehman3660]

The government and big pharma are in the same bed together unfortunately.

[@jamesleigh6166]

What is the documentary. Sorry need to know

[@davelarkin8129]

The politicians get kickbacks. Money is the root of all evil. Look at Mexico and the cartels. I'm sure politicians are getting paid off by cartels to keep the border wide open

[@brosskitchens]

@@tumbleweedtony1796 Bingo. Fentynal is designed to destroy a whole generation & help with population control. The Sackler family, the Rothchilds, the Vanderbilts, the Dupont's etc etc... Their entire goal is to get the Global population down to 1 billion people. Every overdose death to them is a tiny little victory towards their ultimate goal.

[@laylawarsamefit8728]

Few years back I had a major surgery and my doctor prescribed OxyContin. At that time I didn’t know anything about opioids, and how addictive they are. Luckily I lived in the Netherlands so I got only 7 of them, every 24hrs one for 7 days. After that no supply. All I remember is that after taking them I didn’t experience the intense pain of the surgery & I was able to sleep. I wonder what would happened if I was in the USA and got bunch of them from my doctor, probably would ended bad. So grateful to be in a country that is responsible with these medications. I feel for the people who didn’t had that protection from their doctors.

[@THEMANFROMSCOTLAND]

I never get sick of watching Joe’s pod cast

[@battlebreakdown3972]

It’s a bad addiction

[@yoshzlac2429]

Lets be Honest We all remember this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/enLGmpWKlLamrNE

[@yoshzlac2429]

Lets be Honest We all remember this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/enLGmpWKlLamrNE

[@OmogeVblogTV]

Let's be Honest We all waited for this kzbin.info/www/bejne/enLGmpWKlLamrNE

[@TjTj74]

I do.I felt 'physically' sick when he gave AI Zuckerberg an easy ride recently

[@BreeBee555]

I have RA. I was sent to pain management. I was put on a ridiculous amount of Oxy and Methadone. Which was unnecessary considering my diagnosis. I of course got addicted and it took over my life and soul. The withdrawals were pure hell emotionally and physically that I could not stop. Almost ruined my life. I am now three years sober. Every day I am grateful to be finally free from opioid prison.

[@austincummins7712]

I am a recovering opiate addict (clean for over a decade now)- I have used probably every opioid you can imagine as well as fentanyl and heroin. In my case, I chose to use them for recreational purposes at first (popping hydrocodone in high school), so I have only myself to blame. For those who became addicted due to a "necessary" prescription from a doctor, my heart goes out to you. That is a terrible ball and chain to have coupled to you under the guise of clinical care. Opioids had a major negative impact on my life, but one thing I want to make clear about this is that opioids themselves are not the problem. I am glad that we as humans have the capability to craft these drugs, because they can improve the quality of life for many people. Child birth, kidney stones, major surgeries, accidental traumas- if my nine year old son has his femur crushed in a car accident then I will be glad for the existence of such drugs. These drugs are like tools, they have a time and place to be used and must be used responsibly and with care. The issue here is the breakdown of our regulatory system, and the ethics at the companies and some clinics. I do not have a problem with finding newer and better synthetic opioids for pain relief, but what should be made abundantly clear to anyone who is administered these drugs is that they are powerfully addictive and have to be taken with care and responsibility. The relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and the FDA needs to be cleaned up significantly, and the disposition from clinicians towards the pharmaceutical industry and the FDA needs to change to allow for more skepticism.

[@aaronnmorris3314]

U need something that doesn't take pain away and feels good

[@Shrimpyyyyyyyy]

I understand what you are saying but powerfully addictive drugs tend to change a caring and responsible person into a lying, uncaring, irresponsible person so I don’t see how addictive drugs can be taken with care and responsibility.

[@adamswiger9499]

@@Shrimpyyyyyyyy there are plenty of people who took these drugs and didn't get addicted also. So yes you can take drugs responsibly

[@jamesmayle3787]

The Bible is truth. Please read at least three books of the Bible, Genesis Mathew and one book you chose yourself. It is important that as you do, open your heart and forgive. That’s what makes it all click. Work though those issues with your parents. It’s important. They love you. Probably. It’s important to god at least. Forgiveness heals your soul. It’s a great thing to do for yourself. Also, break down before Jesus Christ and ask for forgiveness. These four steps are important keys. Faith is actions based on belief. Please do. All who seek find. Jesus Christ is Lord.

[@lacascadaobregon]

You are delusional LOL “ In my case, I chose to use them for recreational purposes” dude, cut the crap. Nobody does opiates “recreationally“. Everyone that does drugs does it to heal some sort of trauma. What happened to you that caused you to start using drugs to cover your pain?

[@InfamousRafe]

I'm sorry for everyone's losses. And I hope and pray you all found healing or are working towards it I love you all, and appreciate each an everyone one of you! 🤟🏼 Keep, keeping on and stay strong brothers and sisters. ✌🏼

[@jamesmayle3787]

The Bible is truth. Please read at least three books of the Bible, Genesis Mathew and one book you chose yourself. It is important that as you do, open your heart and forgive. That’s what makes it all click. Work though those issues with your parents. It’s important. They love you. Probably. It’s important to god at least. Forgiveness heals your soul. It’s a great thing to do for yourself. Also, break down before Jesus Christ and ask for forgiveness. These four steps are important keys. Faith is actions based on belief. Please do. All who seek find. Jesus Christ is Lord.

[@gxlorp]

Thank you friend. I'm starting to see my brothers dead (29 overdose), as part of my journey here on earth. COOF and the subsequent destruction of society has reawakened me to the nature and level of corruption. The new genetic injections are way more offensive to me than pain pills and even street heroin. Fentanyl is up there though. (This is just my experience I'm by no means an expert in the relevant fields). Now I can relate to all the dead bodies piling up the last 1.5 years, and I have an "in" against big pharma. Although I never use it I will if it means saving lives. Not just poorly researched gene therapy, but all drugs should be intensely scrutinized

[@InfamousRafe]

@@gxlorp I hear you & understand. Handle it with grace 😁 I got your back. Hope you had a wonderful weekend at the least! 🤟🏼😊👌🏼

[@TheGreenNewSteal2025]

This guy is extremely well spoken and educational. I would like to hear more from him.

[@ht1863]

That’s what made him a great sales rep for the shady Sackler family.

[@cooganbeggs4942]

So because he’s well spoken you’d like to hear more from the guy that’s responsible for this shitfight?

[@Skeptic-lc6us]

Your comment sounds like a robot wrote it

[@TheGreenNewSteal2025]

@@Skeptic-lc6us bite my shiny metal ass lol

[@irenehansen9366]

LMAO, he is an idiot. ADHD 20,000 expense account. HE NOW GETS A CONSCIENCE WHO PAID HIM TO SAY ALL THIS CRAP CDC MAYBE PROP? lets find out!!! DONT PUNISH PAIN PATIENTS!!!

[@slimsautomotiverepair8714]

I Went through this in tampa home of the pain clinics i never saw a dime from all this corruption i never got help from the fed or the lawsuits i sat in my moms house shitting my pants throwing up almost dying from seizures where is the help and comp for people like me

[@dustinjones8887]

Damn this is an incredible segment. This just reinforces my minimalist approach to pharmaceuticals and even otc drugs.

[@Kyle-pi4ec]

Minimalist: That is a great way to put it.

[@peters7278]

One of the top podcasts of the year 👍👍

[@jamie-r2034]

I was prescribed to oxys. My "doctors" were giving out Oxys like candy & then when addicted they prescribed suboxone!! These doctors made so much money, they got hooked on the cash. My one doctor cost me $600 cash every month & my monthly appt was 10 mins long. Say the doctor saw 3 patients per hour/8 hr days - that's over $14k a day!

[@izzydeadyet7336]

Yup theyd rather take you off one drug and replace it with 8 different ones! When I was trying to get off suboxone and I was calling the clinic suffering, their only solution was more drugs! She was trying to give me an anti depressant a few weeks ago, I'm like hey, I'm here to get off drugs remember? Ha~ I'm convinced all doctors are just glorified drug peddlers

[@valleytothebay4891]

I don’t know if this state wide or country wide, but every city I’ve gone to in California has addicts nodding out in public or using in public, the restrooms in restaurants have password locked doors so only an employee can let you in to them due to people using in restrooms and overdosing. When I was 19 I was introduced to PK’s after getting shot, 10mg norcos 2 times a day, doctor got shut down for being a pill mill. Since then 3 separate pain management clinics have opened in my town all shut down for being a pill mill, they aren’t messing around with that stuff anymore. Doctors are hesitant to prescribe me anything now especially since I’m still young even though I have bad nerve damage. The higher ups aren’t perfect and they’re corrupt but they’re actually trying to do something about it now, there’s a reason why you need to show ID when you pick up a prescription

[@1BobTheSubGenius]

I feel the same, we spend a lot's of money to get a pill to help you, but in reality they just a legal drug dealers

[@DollfaceKim]

OMG, it sounds like one of my doctor's (he still exists but only takes cash, $600) prescribed me Ms contin, Dilaudid, nucynta.

[@katiekane5247]

@@1BobTheSubGenius and now they have a new drug to ease withdrawal. It's $4K for a 16 day treatment.

[@S.Karmamusic]

I was prescribed opioid for back injury. I was so afraid of addiction that I flushed my prescription down the toilet after being on it for 3 weeks. Regretted flushing it at one point, took the debilitating pain instead, but I lived.

[@marioeid930]

This is horrific man, and the craziest part is its not surprising. I pray for all of you recovering from this 🙏

[@bluedressable]

I was given Stratera when I failed the 3rd grade FCAT (standardize government test) as a child. The doctor diagnosed me with ADHD around 2004 and said this would ‘calm me down’. My hair began falling out in the top center of my head. The headaches became unbearable and I was lethargic and confused. My parents trusted in the pharmaceutical industry 100% and could not believe that pills could do that to a person. So so dangerous. The only thing that matters to that industry is money. Not your health. 😢

[@prophecy9070]

Honestly pharmaceuticals aren’t meant for long term use or used to cure anything… it’s simply a bandaid to help when shit becomes unbearable for people with life lasting illnesses/problems

[@paperdo]

Every elementary school teacher that I ever had said that I needed to be medicated. My Mom always told them to "go to hell". One of the best things that she ever did for me. She didn't give me the easy fix as a child. I had to find the discipline through life experience and learning the hard way. A lot of my weaknesses as a child are now my strengths. Having the tendency to hyper-focus can be super helpful when you are trying to get stuff done in a crunch. Everything changed for me when I realized that adhd can be a strength or weakness, its your choice.

[@probotters7427]

This is America

[@trevorcrabtree7505]

P

[@weirdflex8158]

Strattera is safe?, That's very rare and does not make it bad

[@smart7391]

I knew a guy who was prescribed 20mg oxynorms and 80mg Sandoz Oxycodone. I hadn’t taken oxys for at least a month and my tolerance was low. When I used to heavily abuse it I could take 300mg and be fine. 3 weeks ago I took 160mg in the one day. My mother heard me wheezing and checked up on me to find me asleep breathing slowly. My parents performed CPR and saved my life. All I remember is waking up with a bunch of paramedics standing over me. That’s the 2nd time I’ve overdosed. I think about doing opioids of any kind at least once an hour every single day. I’m prescribed to Valium at the moment but I believe I’ll be going on to Suboxone soon to avoid a relapse. I’ve been so close to death, if I was by myself I would not be here today. Edit: wow I didn’t expect this many comments. I have not gone on suboxone, I have been 2 weeks clean of any opioid, still on Valium which is on a tapper program.

[@probotters7427]

You're not supposed to take Valium with painkillers.

[@mathiusq9128]

Yeah dude the valium is no small detail. Suboxone+valium will be a bad idea too.

[@ianfreemantle5980]

Goodluck mate

[@Stephen85]

@@mathiusq9128 they will cut off his benzo script of he gets an opoid painkiller like Suboxone.

[@OneAndOnlyExoh]

@@Stephen85 the pharmas are bad no they won’t , i’ve heard them say it’s illegal before exactly as you guys are saying yet my mom is on football alprazolam + 10mg hydrocodones and she gets both prescriptions on the same day every month

[@anneN0221]

My sweet son became abdicted to oxycontin he is now serving a 14 yr sentence in prision because even though he had a good job he turned crime to support his habit. Hes missed so much. I fear he will come out of prison and go right back to using the thing that will probly end up killing him.

[@Natalie-rl7dq]

I briefly interned at Purdue Pharma in the early 2000's during the investigation and literally sat in on a company-wide meeting trying to sell to us the idea that the patients were mentally addicted and not physically addicted to the drug. This was when they were still Rx'ing 100mg pills. It was disgusting. The stories of the families that were being affected were / are so sad and tragic!

[@robsmith9093]

Q.a

[@terywetherlow7970]

I could not EVER participate in bringing misery to another to make a buck. How have the Sackler's not had RICO act used against them?

[@bigroaststyrone8135]

@@terywetherlow7970 come on, you know why lol

[@chairmanmeow8481]

I could. Depends on the pay

[@calebdixon784]

@@terywetherlow7970 lool the fact you said this while being In NA is funny money family class pay too win age and race all matter being rich means slaps on the wrist connections etc corruption aswell

[@alex_saint-matthews]

I had a root canal done a long time ago and my dentist prescribed Hydrocodone for pain. I followed the prescription directions exactly, and by the time I had five or so pills left, I was no longer experiencing any pain, but since the directions said to keep to a specific schedule, I kept taking them. I -loved- the way that drug was making me feel, best sleep I’d ever had up to that time. Once I had finished my bottle, I knew that this was ABSOLUTELY ADDICTIVE and however much I enjoyed taking Hydrocodone, it would destroy me if I ever started taking it again.

[@frankjamesbonarrigo7162]

It’s good you were responsible and didn’t blame the company for becoming an addict

[@DaSkonk]

@@frankjamesbonarrigo7162 The company *ARE* responsible and *SHOULD* be blamed, despite your weak attempts at deflection - they're absolute scum of the earth, who're responsible for the deaths and destroyed lives of hundreds of thousands of people; because they lied through their teeth about how addictive the drug was, just so they could make more money. They're guilty as sin and should *ALL* be in prison - make no mistake!

[@00mandrew]

Same here. I had one after an extraction, LOVED IT, and threw the rest of the bottle in the trash never to accept a script for them again to this day.

[@KittraKittra]

Yeah. Well.. opiates are addictive. In case you didn’t know.

[@gretchenlittle6817]

Yep, I had a root canal in the 90s and got a script for vicodin -- gotta admit it was great with a couple of beers. Had to get another root canal this year and my dentist told me to use ibuprofen if necessary. I told him about the previous experience and he said, "yeah, we don't do that anymore -- you don't need it."

[@easypeezie4494]

This gets complicated when the patient is in legitimate agony 24hrs a day for years. I’ve had 4 spine surgeries with terrible nerve damage. There is an amount of pain that should trump the worry for opioid addiction. I was in pain management for 10 years and had that option not been there I would’ve lost my job and therefore everything. I’ve been off pain meds for 4 years now and I’m so glad I was able to recover enough for that to be possible. Surgery, exercise and time allowed me to lessen my pain enough to deal with it. Pain meds are dangerous and can ruin lives, but there’s a time for them. I see ppl that genuinely need pain meds having to fight for them and that’s not good either.

[@bgsjohnson]

Ted Talk "the hardest pill to swallow" by Dr Tracy Jackson discusses management of chronic pain is different than acute pain. 2015?

[@mistermr0221]

And this is why nothing can be done about them. Everything has a good and bad purpose.

[@christopherclark5604]

Amen

[@karylmorgan7320]

1. My bro in law retired as physician after 32 years in the 1990s. He decided to go to work for Merck for somethng new. Quit after 8 years and he said he would not take any meds because he learned they are all poison delivered in small doses. 2. There are a lot of articles on line about food dyes. The blue and red especially affect children. With ADHD, anxiety, OCD. Many mothers in comment section took their kids off of all candies, popsicles, etc and saw their children completely change in weeks with no food dyes. Some had ignorant teachers that were giving out the candies and they had to insist they quit giving to their child. I have friends who got their normal children back after eliminating them and giving them better diet.

[@debbylou5729]

I worked at a cardiology office. I was so proud to work with these people. Our office had 12 doctors and NONE of them met with drug reps. We were a magnet because of the number of signatures the reps could get at one stop. The docs would sign for samples and that was it. When lunch was provided they wouldn’t even go into the conference room. They wouldn’t take a bite, drink or taste. In fact one doc wouldn’t even sign and if a rep asked, he would be told to leave….immediately. It was a great place to work

[@Kdramahotgist]

Check out the page on my name he got psych products and ships discreetly

[@IFBBProYeo]

That's amazing!!

[@xGSxAmAZyn]

That is some Marcus Aurelius stuff right there

[@runeplate123]

They were just doing their job if you didn’t want it then they should of gotten the hint!

[@Driftak907]

I had a heart attack 3 years ago, waited 4 months for open heart surgery. During those 4 months I was prescribed many different benzos starting out as “take only as needed for anxiety” 10 pills prescribed at once with no refills and low doses, at the end it was prescribed “take 3 times daily” at max dose. Day before surgery I was told to cut all medications, the withdrawals were worse than any part of having a heart attack. I’m very lucky I was in the ICU during the withdrawal process. When I got home during recovery I was prescribed the exact same pills I was addicted to before surgery plus pain medications. I’ve since changed doctors and have no benzos or opiates in my system for 2.5 years. I still struggle with anxiety and depression but have found help with the right support and proper medications

[@theyrecousins]

Ah jeez, I’m sorry, that’s awful! And that was very irresponsible of them too - if you’re that tolerant to benzos and used to taking a lot, they can’t well just tell you to stop cold, that can certainly cause a seizure and/or death.

[@Porcelaindoll1028]

I sponsor many former addicts. Every single one of their stories started from an accident or surgery where they needed pain meds. This stuff is addictive and instead of weaning them off the meds they cut them off cold turkey with prescription so then folks went to the streets. Sickening

[@Porcelaindoll1028]

I was in an accident and broke my leg. I did refuse the oxy despite everyone telling me to do it. My only response is that the moment I take that Pill, i just signed my own death certificate. I think I was yelling to not give me fentanyl either. Imagine being in trauma screaming to not give me either. This stuff is death ☠️. Shame on those who put profit over lives.

[@MatarikiAzul]

Drs absolutely caused the " opioid crisis" they got everyonr hooked with no plans to get off or wean at a tolerable rate. Cutting ppl off cold turkey puts ppl in distress. Ive seen it happen. Its not addicts causing a crisis. Its drs causing addicts.....

[@thedevilsadvocate5210]

There were plenty of people that never took any pain pills and got hooked on smack.

[@Porcelaindoll1028]

@@thedevilsadvocate5210 I agree but a great amount of heroin addicts have come from people being cut off from pain management. The opioid epidemic is happening due to greedy pharmaceuticals companies, doctor who have broken the hypocratic oath and insurance companies. Yea there are folks who had got hooked due to peer pressure, curiosity. Ur majority of the cases here in the states it started from pain management.

[@thedevilsadvocate5210]

@@Porcelaindoll1028 Sure I just think if you blame the doctors they won't give pain meds to anyone. Sometimes you need some pain meds.

[@MadeItThruThat]

My mother was a hydro and oxy addict. It’s over with now but it’ll never not hurt to think about

[@brownbuffalo3411]

​@@ED-wn5jw Seriously? You have to ask?

[@chieftricky]

Back in 2007 I had a lung collapse on me spontaneously and was in the hospital for nearly a month. They had me on fentanyl the entire time I was in the hospital and when I got out of the hospital my doctor wrote me out scripts for 10 mg hydrocodone for a year straight after I got out of the hospital which looking back at it now that was insane but that was at the height of the opioid crisis where doctors where writing scripts left and right. Well when my script ran out after a year my crummy doctor never explained to me about withdrawals from the pain medicine I didn't have a clue that it gave you withdrawals I've never took pain medicine before that and I wasn't aware that it gave you withdrawals and so after I stopped taking it I started getting deathly sick and I told this girl at work about it because she would buy a couple from me here and there and she told me I was going through withdrawals and that her mom and dad got scripts of pain medicine every month and they sold most of their script and so that's when my opioid addiction really started because I started buying her mom and dad's script to get that sickness feeling away and that began a 15 year addiction and I'm still struggling with it to this day even tho I'm nowhere near as bad as I once was. At the height of my addiction I was taking 60 to 70 10 mg Percocets or hydrocodones a day. I was buying them off the streets so depending on what I was able to get determined how many I was taking. If I had 30 mg oxycodones I would take around 15 to 20 a day. The terrible part about it now is the government put a clamp down on doctors writing scripts which is a good thing except now the cartels are making pain killers with fentanyl in them that are way more potent than heroin so now it's hard to find any real oxys on the streets you basically can only get the fake 30s and their so strong it's causing people to overdose it's so sad. I never had a drug problem until I went to the hospital with a collapsed lung it's ruined my life. Please pray for me I'm still fighting the addiction to this day.

[@anthonygato407]

God doesn't get involved with people's opiate addictions. hopes the best but we're left to work that one out for ourselves since we willingly allowed our self to be lost.

[@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293]

I love reading comments like this. I wish you strength, good fortune and many small mercies going into 2023. Thanks for taking the time to tell your story, and for doing it so well, I was engrossed.

[@VirgoKat]

I'm sending you love💜 and light🕯 Chief, thank you for sharing your story, you are in my prayers🙏 and I believe in you💫

[@alpal87]

@@anthonygato407 God absolutely does. He’s there throughout the storm and wants to see everyone come to redemption. Who are you to judge. Pull the plank out of your own eye before pointing out the spec in a brothers

[@reglagirl5802]

Wow you’ve been through a lot so sorry yes I will pray for you

[@tobysgamingworld1550]

I spent my twenties and most of my thirties on opiates because I went from hydrocodone (Lortab aka Vicodin) to OxyContin and I thank God every day I’m sober. I’ve been sober 7 years and its mind blowing having seen it first hand. I’ve sat in pill mills, I’ve seen a doctor get vacations and all sorts of stuff from an Oxy rep.

[@DigitalDashprod]

How did u quit bro? I have subs but I always feel like mentally I can’t quit. I got on the subs and then get bored and depressed and feel like o need the oxys to feel normal and motivated again

[@tobysgamingworld1550]

@@DigitalDashprod you have to HAVE to go to meetings of some kind (even if online) and find something to replace that oxy high desire. So much of our addiction is the routine. I would start to get those feelings from the time I made the phone call until the minute I chewed them up and drank my coke with it, all that stuff. I heard Keifer Sutherland talk about how much he loved the crushing and lining it up and all that. Its that routine you have to replace. I know it sounds silly but once your body isn’t craving them to the point of withdrawal (the subs fix that) it’s a lot of mental. I have health issues that keep me from getting into like big time exercising, running, but I’ve heard from countless people like myself that’s the thing that they got into that kept them straight. For me, I tried every hobby under the sun until I found cooking. I swear I tried it all, disc golf, riding a bike, video games, even couponing with honestly was fun. There’s something out there that will occupy your mind and body and fill that void. You just have to find it. Don’t be afraid to try all sorts of stuff as long as it’s not making you want to use. The meetings help because they’re a constant reminder of how horrible it is to be off in this shit. It keeps it in front of you. If I can help dude let me know. Seriously. You can do this. You have the desire you just have to replace the shit with something good.

[@DigitalDashprod]

@@tobysgamingworld1550 thank u for your response bro I appreciate it more than u think. I’m turning 25 on Valentine’s Day. I’ve been hooked on them for 5 years now give it take, even dabbled with heroin at one point a couple years ago when I ran out of money condiferjg I pay 60-70$ for 80mg pill. I would spend easy 2-400$ a day and barely get high. I’m just so tired of wasting all my money and burning so many bridges and wasted my 20s with this shit bro but everytime I quit I end up back on them. I’m currently waiting to do a shoulder surgery so I can’t workout how I used too. I used to workout 6 days a week since I was 16 even through t my addiction I still worked out but the last 2 years I fell off hard. I coulda bought a house or two paid off with the amount of spent on this fucking garbage. Sometimes I just feel like giving uo

[@tobysgamingworld1550]

@@DigitalDashprod I’m with ya man. I started at 19 and it was the epitome of self medicating. My whole life was a mess and after never drinking, never smoking, never trying any sort of drug I let a buddy (a friend who was close to 30) talk me into taking some pills. I’m lucky to be alive. I spent 10 years, a marriage to someone I hated, lost a house and a car, things I couldn’t replace all to the pills. I started going to church and I feel like God took that desire away from me. I didn’t want to get high anymore I was just sick constantly from withdrawals. Took me a few years after that to find Suboxone but even then I wasn’t serious about it. I was still lying and stealing and all that. It took me seeing my brother, my twin who is my best friend on earth, laying on his back dying for me to wake up and realize it’ll never change. One pill or one hundred, it’ll never be enough for me. I can’t take them. Ever. I can’t dabble here and there, nothing. I’ve had two surgeries this past year and aside from what they gave me in the hospital I can honestly say I haven’t went back to using. It’s not because I’m so strong or great, it’s because I go to these meetings and church (I know that’s not for everyone so I’m not preaching I promise) and I have these daily reminders that if I go back I’m done for. I’m dead. I will die if I use again and I don’t want to. A while back (not this year) I had kidney stone surgery and they told me there was no option but the Percocet. It was that or be in ungodly pain. I gave in and took them. Couldn’t just take one cause that does nothing for me. I was off Suboxone so I just took them like I used to take them before the Suboxone. At one point I was hurting so bad I took 3-4 and within about 5-10 minutes I fell asleep. I was dreaming that I was drowning and in my sleep I started to pray and call out to Jesus. I woke suddenly and was having trouble breathing. I was pale and sweating, just a mess. With all my heart I believe I was in respiratory distress or on the verge of overdose. From that moment on I’ve never went back. The meetings, taking to people like you, it all reminds me daily that I have to keep going. Try some hobbies man. Whatever works. Cooking, writing, gardening, hell I gotta into the whole “prepper” thing for a minute and that was very satisfying and time consuming. I was learning to garden and can my own food, building up supplies in case things go crazy. We as addicts developed a passion for them drugs. It was a relationship. Best way to get out of an old relationship is to get in a new one. Find that new one. My life turned around fast. I went from divorced with no kids to married with 3 kids in less than one year lol. When you flip that script it changes everything man. You can do it.

[@DigitalDashprod]

@@tobysgamingworld1550 thank u so much again bro this resonated even more with me.. your so right about the praying too. I myself am Muslim, we are supposed to lray 5 times a day so k feel like that’ll help me so much and even just I’m general aswell. You taking those percs, falling asleep and then feel like your drowning and calling to Jesus I feel was a sign man foreal. Your giving me more motivation to really be off these things for good. It really does turn into a routine that we fall in love with, the whole waking up needing them then searching for them, finding them, scraping together the money to get them then taking them. I guess i weirdly like the whole process of thag for some weird fucking reason. I feel like my energy is so off when I’m on them too and I just drive everyone away. It used to be a motivator, source of energy, confidence, better sex, better social skill too doing the absolute opposite of all of that. I think I’m gonna make today my last day for good bro. I’m gonna wake up tom and take my suboxone as soon as I’m able too and never looking back. I’m official done I can’t do this anymore bro. I’m wasting my life. Not tryna sound cocky but I’m a pretty good looking guy and I know how to talk but I’m just wasting it all for this garbage of a drug that feels so fucking good and bad at the same time. Do you game out on Xbox at all? Would love to hop on and chat and game out if that’s something that would work.

[@ross-id5fj]

when I was in elementary my mother taught me my basic addition and subtraction so I was ahead of my class, finish my work early, and talk to my classmates my teacher got fed up and one day had a parent teacher meeting. They said I had adhd and told my mother if I wasn’t on medication they were gonna call CPS. Little did they know my mother worked for a social behavior clinic and knew they couldn’t do anything legally. She told them to go ahead and call CPS because she wasn’t going to put her son on addictive medication at 5 years old. My mom told me a lot of these kids get addicted at a young age because most of their parents are immigrants and whenever CPS is mentioned they’re willing to comply. Don’t assume because someone is educated or works in a certain field means they have what’s best in mind for YOU

[@newusernamehere4772]

@Albert Einstein I think the point was it can be easier to get tricked by the system if you're from somewhere else, not that immigrants are the only ones being targeted or the only ones falling for it lol

[@il-conte]

That is fucked up on so many levels. Think the amount of kids turned into vegetables because the teachers couldn't bother to deal with high amounts of energy. My theory is that if kids are bursting with energy they need to exercise more.

[@SG-ri6gj]

I’m on the upper spectrum of pain. I go to my level 8 or 9 multiple times everyday. It has taken a toll on me as I’m in my 60s. I have had 2 hips a shoulder replaced and other surgeries. I use cannabis and Alleve. That’s all because Oxycodone almost had me. Luckily my wife was watching me and saved me but I had a rough 4 days of withdrawl and had no idea I was addicted in just 6 days. None of my 6 children ever had a clue. I’m happy as can be most of the time. I choose to be. None not one of these assholes who did this went to jail.

[@CharlesRexElizabethRegina]

I'm a recruiter for orthopaedics and spine consultants. Have you ever looked into spinal cord stimulation? That is a great way to remove pain and is almost not even surgery it's that simple..

[@KimLaCapria]

it's criminal cannabis is so effective yet restricted when no one ODs on it.

[@stepford702]

When I was 30 I was hit by a drunk driver. Because my parents were addicts, I was straight edge my whole life. I discussed my parent's addition history. I told him I was worried about becoming like them. He confidently told me that since I've never taken drugs or drank I would be fine, as long as I took them exactly as directed and don't skip doses or it will make my pain come back and make the meds less affective. He assured me that I'd be fine. Then he sent me home with 4 Percocet daily and morphine twice a day, for "breakthrough pain". I trusted that doctor and he robbed me of 6 years of my life and turned me into a person who was a stranger to me. These drug companies and the doctors who push pills are evil.

[@JorgeSanchez-gh3fl]

I agree with you it’s all evil, Come to Jesus he love you and can set you free, I’m too struggling with this. This opiate epicdemic is rough. Only 17 too

[@TheDesertLifeofJo]

@sarahduropan this is the best comment I have ever read..SO TRUE!💯

[@rickh8093]

A friend of mine was a former pharmaceutical rep. His name is Bruce Boise and he wrote a book about his experiences during that time. The book is titled Cold Comfort. It’s a detailed look at what went on from a pharm reps perspective. Scary stuff.

[@reglagirl5802]

Yeah my father was a pharmaceutical rep for Pfizer in the 60s it was quite an education which is still valuable

[@hellbenderdesign]

I've known a quite a few pharma reps - they are usually very attractive, ethically flexible, hard partiers.

[@nitsuanomrah6997]

@@hellbenderdesign you just described my half sister... drinks every day. Made millions selling drugs legally. Ever since the covid lockdowns she hardly has to work. A meeting on her laptop occasionally and then back to partying with all her rich friends.

[@nitsuanomrah6997]

I bought your friend's book thanks for the recommendation

[@enough_chords]

Sounds like a shitty book

[@jenniferbeck5668]

omigosh...this hits home. i got 'broken' about a dozen years ago. tried to do things by the book to get disability (another story), but pain management almost killed me with the amount of meds i was prescribed. even fell asleep standing up and broke my wrist in a couple places. as bad as that was, though, there came a time when all of a sudden pain management clinics started to kick people out. i had left on my own beforehand, but what i had observed was that they addicted so many people then ripped that away with no recourse, & now we wonder why people are getting drugs off the street and playing russian roulette with fentanyl. it's just nuts what's happening with big pharma.

[@peanutbuttergirl6098]

That happened to me once after taking a m30. Got up to look in the mirror. 15 mins later came to realize that I totally became unconscious while standing there 😳 I still get scared remembering that

[@lorihoop3831]

I was on fentanyl patches, saw the scam and got off the meds. It's all about patient volume and repeat customers. Thank God I wasn't addicted,only physically dependent. I can't imagine the grip of addiction and how it tears people apart. It's so easy to make the pain of withdrawal go away with a phone call...I now use low dose of kratom on bad days, Marijuana and Aleve. Have to move much slower and don't do lots I could do while on the meds but the trade off of being "alive " again makes it worthwhile.

[@oldwelshlady6584]

What happened

[@oliviaoverboard]

I had foot surgery last august and was in the worst pain of my life afterwards. I was given oxy to take at home since it was a same day surgery. it ended up not being enough and had to go back to the hospital for IV painkillers then to ween off of those to just be on oxy. i guess i have a very high tolerance for pain meds. once i was able to lessen the oxy and switch to using just tyenol i felt a lot better. being on oxy and the IV pain meds was the best feeling i've ever felt and even after I no longer needed it i missed how good i felt and totally began to understand how easy it is to get hooked. i expressed these concerns to my psychiatrist and she told me to lock the oxy in a safe and give someone else the key. that's one of the best advice i've been given and I could have been in a very different place right now if i didnt start to realize what was happening. after i locked it up i thought about how good it felt every single day for a couple months. 6 months later i still think about it once and a while.

[@captaincrum1]

I have had trouble kicking Codeine for awhile....i was on Myrsondal Fourte for a knee lnjury ligament damage and such and it sneaks up on you like nothing else. Goddamn nose starts running your whole body hurts and it feels like your standing near a furnace during withdrawels. Just started watching Painkiller on Netflix....that fuck knew exactly what he was making.....these companys are a buisness not a health implementation and will fuck you over with a smile on there face. I would love to know how much they payed the fucking FDA to go 😮 years later when it was to late. People take shit like this for a legitimate reason and it ends up getting sinister....until the very thing helping you has become the void after your done with it.

[@7791D]

120 days clean and sober today my addiction started from the oxy to the heroin then the fenny. I've never felt so much better ever in my life at 31.

[@kkrollingskkrollings3173]

Dopesick is a fantastic reality facts based series, it has like 8 episodes and tells the full story of what this gentlemen is talking about. Hits home for me as well I lost my mother in law she was actually the first death from oxy were I live I lost friends and I to was addicted to oxy. Highly recommend Dopesick is very interesting and some great Hollywood actors.

[@jasonswearingin1009]

I was prescribed Oxy a few times following medical/dental procedures. I never developed a need for the drug but it did cause me painful and in one case severe constipation issues. The severe one brought me to the brink of surgical intervention but through a series of those nasty drinks and the warm water hose up the backdoor technique I thankfully avoided that surgery.

[@asavage1576]

RIP to alot of friends. For a 34 year old i shouldn't have this many dead friends

[@lorieverhart5184]

A huge contributor to the pain pill saga was when an internist in CA was sued for refusing more pain medicine for a patient, and he lost. Every solid physician then had to worry that the same thing could happen to them. I think it was in the early nineties that it happened.

[@tularem]

Just like now and the baccine... any doctor who wanted/wants to wait for more data... sued out of his practice or gets shut down by the government. It blows my mind people can't see the connections between pharma companies and opioids, and pharma companies and the baccine

[@rebacorddesignstudio7470]

I have worked in the medical field for over 25 years. He is absolutely correct about there are bad guys and good guys in every profession. The problem with the medical field is most people are afraid to question their provider or 'make them mad'. An older patient told me once they didn't want to make their doctor mad. I told them I pissed doctors off daily, they get over it just like everyone else.

[@mrdanforth3744]

If you are in Canada and piss off your GP and he quits you, it could take 10 years to get another doctor.

[@rebacorddesignstudio7470]

That is messed up!!

[@rebacorddesignstudio7470]

@Mr Danforth 374 that is so messed up but it happens in small towns here in Texas. I used to work for a large clinic and if you didn't like your doctor and tried to change doctors within the clinic you weren't able to. You had to go to the next big town to find care. That isn't right. I was appalled when I learned this.

[@jamesshepherd8565]

​@@mrdanforth3744 you are flat out wrong. If that ever happened it was absolutely on the patient. The Canadian health care system has problems but it's not remotely that bad.

[@mrdanforth3744]

@@jamesshepherd8565 Well it happened to me and it took more than 10 years to get another GP and the one I have now is useless. You may be all right if you live in a city but in a small town there is a shortage of doctors.

[@Andrewnutrition]

Joe you need to have a Lyme disease expert (IDSA) on your podcast. Millions are suffering in silence and have been IGNORED by 'mainstream medicine'.

[@jkn8705]

The docuseries Painkiller does an excellent job of portraying what he's describing. Unfortunately, so many of us have been touched by opiate addiction. It's sick how one family's greed ultimately took the lives of 1000s.

[@Enjoymentboy]

My sister-in-law is a perfect example. She is a militant ethical vegan and suffers from malnutrition due to her diet. She went to her dr complaining about pain and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and prescribed oxy. I've seen her in withdrawal after 3 hours since her last dose and just going into complete rages. She is utterly oblivious to her actions and just blames it on being in too much pain. After a long drive home once (3.5 hours) she was in full withdrawal and almost hysterical with her rage. When we finally got home she stormed into the house, popped 2 pills and downed them with a full can of strongbow. Within 10 minutes she was the sweetest person you could ever hope to meet. The last time I saw her she was getting 90 pills (not sure of the dose) every 14 days and would usually get a 60 day refill. The bottle was huge. If you ask her she isn't an addict and all of her problems are caused by other people.

[@wests12live]

Who’s her doctor

[@eatingelizabethsfrizbee]

Not anymore.

[@MikeJones-xp4yw]

I tried to save my brother, spent as much time as I could with him for the last few years and they were the best times of my life. Awareness needs to be brought to the opioid crisis, as it seems more and more people know someone who has overdosed off of these terrible drugs. The only thing that comes to mind with oxy is pain not pain relief. I have heard so many peoples actual struggle with opioids and witnessed fentanyl addiction with my brother first hand. I could not leave home without my narcan spray but now I no longer have to. LOVE YOU ALAN HOPE I SEE YOU SOON

[@prolificendangered1955]

Heavy

[@william9922]

My dad was a disabled Vet; growing up at the time I didn’t understand what he was going through with his addiction and withdrawal off these pills.

[@Nancysoulshine]

Good bless our vets!!❤️🇱🇷

[@eveneve]

My son was a former meth addict as a teen. He came out of that and put his energies into getting educated, finally earning an engineering degree from SDSU. In the second year of employment with a firm, he took a vaca with his family and was in a head on collision. He was hurt the worst (miraculously no one killed) with back pain. They ended up suing the rental car company the other driver used. He was from another country wherein they drive on the opposite side of the road and was coming head on to my son & family. Through the lawsuit, he had to continue to see the docs who eventually put him on Oxy. He quickly spiraled downward and once they stopped the oxy he sought heroin. Lost his job and continued to spiral out of control. Presently in rehab and working towards recovery🙏🏻after 8+ years in and out of jail/prison/hell!

[@sleepwalkusa135]

Your son sure loves getting addicted lol

[@JaneLaPlace]

Sending love, light & hugs, sir. If I could get sober, anyone can. Took a lot of years, but it is possible.

[@eliquate]

I struggled with painkiller addiction my whole youth. My bottom wasn’t as low as it could have been, but I was stealing from loved ones for sure. So ashamed. That shame just feeds the addiction too. Recently I had a SEARING pain in my leg from an injury and had that little voice go “you NEED pain meds.” But I took Tylenol and it was fine. My point here is NON OPIOID PAIN MEDS WORK IF YOU ACTUALLY TRY THEM. That said, I also think there is a level of pain that Tylenol will not help, but we need to be more responsible when evaluating solutions.

[@joycewright5386]

As a nurse I constantly saw patients given prescriptions for 120 OxyContin after very minor surgical procedures where Tylenol should have sufficed. Doctors never listened to us when we tried to tell them it was too much.

[@kbschannel2355]

Tylenol? Okay well sometimes there actually is a need for pain medicine but now you can't get it at all. They flood the market and then when you hurt yourself they don't want to give it to you and they just give you an ibuprofen and sometimes that just don't cut it. I pulled a muscle in my back and kept working and it went through my groin it was so bad for a few days that it kept me awake I was literally crying and then I got an anti-inflammatory shot which didn't even work and some muscle relaxers and steroids. It's like they flooded the market got everybody hooked on pills and then they just took it all away and now when you go in and you actually have something wrong they don't want to give you anything

[@kbschannel2355]

Sorry I repeated myself in that paragraph

[@joycewright5386]

@@kbschannel2355 yes I agree, they totally flipped to the other side with no regard for patients in real pain. Our entire healthcare system is a mess.

[@thecomedian5933]

Most of my friends are dead now from the oxycontin pandemic. I myself almost fell victim to it as well. This hits way too close to home and makes me incredibly angry and frustrated.

[@francopalumbo5930]

Somewhat same here. I was 1st to get hooked to OC back in early/mid 2000s out off all my friends. So basically most of my friends never used OxyContin until I found a plug for 40mgs. All my friends that went through that addiction with me have sense passed away(car wreck/shot bad drug deal/but most died). Today I have been clean since Jan 2017. Second hardest thing I’ve ever done mentally is quit heroine. First place was won by cigarettes. Took me over 15 years and meeting my wife to finally quit smoking

[@moneyminds405]

@@francopalumbo5930 happy for you :)

[@MichaelQuigley-li4xi]

Fight on!! One day at a time....GOD BLESS YOU!

[@brockreynolds870]

So all your friends were junkies?

[@RexDavis415]

Same. My friend overdosed on Oxytocin, it's no joke.

[@hernendezsanchez7646]

Such an amazing and eye opening interview, thank you for bringing this to the mainstream conversation. Take care my man, they will be looking to keep you quiet one way or another.

[@PAGL2020]

I lost a loved one from opiate overdose each time I had a baby and many before and after. My children's birthdays are both the best and worst memories I have. These people were some of the most incredible people I've ever been lucky enough to know and I'll never replace them. I was prescribed painkillers for surgeries over the years and I realized how people could slide into the abyss and never claw their way out. If you've never done them, stay away. If you're addicted PLEASE TRY TO GET HELP. You can't imagine how loved you are or how heartbroken people will be when you're gone.