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There are certain professions that society just trusts. Teachers and construction workers. Accountants and financial managers. Software developers. Cybersecurity specialists. Those in healthcare. We trust them to not lead us astray. To set us on the right path, to give us the information we need, and to help us survive.
There are those who play such a vital role in society and it wouldn’t make sense for them to do anything else but help humanity thrive. However, what if a wrench is thrown into that equation? What if there were people in these positions who take advantage of what they have to give themselves more?
This may seem like quite the lofty theory, but there is actually a substantial amount of rationale behind it – “Money makes the world go ’round”! This simple expression has been taught to so many from such a young age.
The concept of needing to get money to be happy and making money is a priority dates back centuries. That is why many of the human populace attempt to prioritize reaching a higher level of education. It is associated with a higher chance of earning more money.
That is why promotions exist, as one benefit of such is an increased income. It is human instinct to create an opportunity for the “higher-ups”, whether in the job field, or in a club, or in an academic setting, to associate you with something good.
It can become a constant desire to do everything to get ahead. To be the best, or have the most money, or be the most known.
That is the very definition of greed.
Opioids, which normally have a very negative connotation, do have medical benefits for acute, pre-, and post-operation pain, cough suppression, anesthesia, and pain from cancer. Opioids work by blocking the body pain receptors and altering how the body perceives pain, as stated on National Institute of Drug Abuse.
However, for the incredibly potent substances, one needs a prescription from their doctor. But what if you couldn’t trust the recommendations your doctor gave you? What if physicians had an ulterior motive when they gave you a prescription?
What if doctors were in contact with the companies who produce the opioids and received commissions or gifts when they prescribe an opioid?
This may sound like nothing more than a crazy theory because, if true, it would unlock a new level of malpractice in the medical sector.
However, despite what human instinct tells us, despite how society has been raised to trust medical professionals, a study conducted in 2014 revealed that this is possible. Out of 916,264 physicians, 389,622 received gifts after prescribing an opioid, according to a 2020 report in the Journal of General and Internal Medicine.
Let that sink in:
42.5% of physicians had an incentive to prescribe something that can be addictive.
42.5% of physicians may have just randomly prescribed an opioid without it truly being what their patient needs.
42.5% of physicians are not doing what they went to school to do. To prioritize helping the population.
This may have been a decade ago, but regardless, just because it happened then does not mean history cannot, or will not, repeat itself.
Expanding the effects of this to outside opioids, Lown Institute as of April 24, 2024, 57% of physicians received some type of “payment from pharmaceutical device companies”.
In 2020, ProPublica found that “more than 2,500 physicians have received at least half a million dollars apiece from drugmakers and medical devices”, and Fox Rothschild LLP in 2022 released an article on multiple legal cases involving opioid and physician related crimes.
One should not have to be concerned with whether their doctor has ulterior motives for their prescription. One should not have to attempt and do research on their own medication in gear that their doctor purposefully gave them the wrong thing.
It will take a sufficient effort to combat. You can gain multiple opinions from different practices, go into your appointment with an idea of what you may need in mind, or if at all possible, try alternative methods to opioids.
Regardless, the main thing one can do is not just immediately accept the first prescription given.
Stay knowledgeable, stay aware, and stay safe.
This article was written as part of a program to educate youth and others about Alameda County’s opioid crisis, prevention and treatment options. The program is funded by the Alameda County Behavioral Health Department and the grant is administered by Three Valleys Community Foundation.
