Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
Big pharma is a big problem for sure, but even if major reductions are made, can we really eliminate pain killers entirely? People do need them for post surgery and injuries.
They why are they so easily obtained for off-label abuse?
Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
If we don't eliminate them entirely, then we're right back to square one.
It's not a simple black/white no-alternative situation.
Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
Say we could snap a finger and make it go away. Then what? Back to the heroin, cocaine, etc. The former likely supporting ISIS.
You are starting to scratch the surface.
Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
Where foreign borne drugs are concerned, we've literally tried everything, including military action.
You can't stop economic competition with wars and the military. That was clearly obvious from the start. But alot of money sure was made proving the point, wasn't it?
Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
Those two are insurmountable issues. We don't even have ideas that sound good for solving them.
The only thing insurmountable is the political will to address the problem rationally, without regard to special interests. Drug abuse will continue to be a big problem as long as the pharmaceutical and alcohol industries remain in competition with the black market. And that is the way it will stay as long as things continue to remain just barely tenable and the profits flow in.
It's called the status-quo. Nothing new here.