Quote Originally Posted by dissimulo View Post
Opioids are no more the cause of the opioid epidemic than antibiotics are the cause of infections. People seek out opioids for a variety of reasons, from chronic pain to lives filled with mental anguish. Drug wars always attempt to win by choking out the supply, when they should try to reduce the demand. I guess reducing the demand looks too much like helping people (entitlements!) instead of stuffing them into prisons so that they can learn to become more competent criminals. It's all stupid and I have no hope that we will do anything but continue to maximize stupidity because it is too easy and tempting for people who aren't addicted to drugs to feel like superior beings.
Yep.

And now the FDA is confiscating a LEGAL HERB, because it "has opioid properties". Anyone here who uses Kratom for pain needs to get a supply now... they are trying (absent any Congressional legislation or legal basis.) to make it a schedule 1 "drug".

It CAN be addictive.. so anyone wishing to use it needs to be aware that daily use over a period of time (weeks to months) especially if you are using it "recreationally", you WILL end up with a physical dependence. But people are using it to sucessfully get themselves off opiates, and Big Pharma HATES competition. Their rationale right now is " there have been 36 death's "associated" with Kratom". No specified time period for that number, no mention if other drugs were involved (probably), and- of course- NO mention of how many thousands dued ftom "safe" Rx and OTC meds in whatever time period they're talking about.

Summerthyme