Health Canada now requires that prescribed opioid medications
need to clearly indicate both on the bottle and in pamphlets a clear warning as
to the potential for addiction and misuse. Doctors, researchers and others who
study addictions and prescription misuse have suggested that this is an
important step in preventing people from developing a dependency on this
medication.
I have limited experience with taking medication. Other than
my beta blockers for my heart condition and the very occasional antibiotic, I
have managed to avoid needing to take prescribed medication. I therefore, may
not be qualified to pass comment on a health initiative that may save lives. However,
I cannot believe that sticking on a bright yellow triangle on a bottle of pills
will cause anyone to be more careful. It is even less likely in my mind that
anyone (with the exception of a few rather bored folks) will bother to wade
through a notice, typed in incredibly small print, that has been stuck into the
box. Individuals are not going to look at the label or read the pamphlet at
2:00 in the morning when they need to take another pill.
It is hard for me to believe that there is a single person
living in Canada who is not aware that there is an ever increasing number of
individuals who are addicted to opioids. I have to believe that every doctor is
well aware of the risks and that the days of extended use of such medication
without supervision and review is long past. I have to hope that every time
such a medication is prescribed, the doctor has a serious and clear
conversation with the patient. In my limited experience, even with my rather
innocuous prescribed drugs, I don't get them until the pharmacist makes sure that
I understand what I am getting. It would seem to me that if the medical
community is doing its job (and I acknowledge that that is not always the
case), there is sufficient opportunity for the patient to get all of the
information about the drug and its dangers - if they want to hear it.
While doctors, in the post-modernist world may not be on
quite as high as pedestal as they use to be, they are still seen as people who
can deliver on basic cures and pain relief. In spite of the near epidemic rates
of cynicism, we appear to still need to believe that there are people who will
always give good advice so that we can get better. In spite of some
overwhelming contrary evidence, many of us want/need to believe that the doctor
is always right. People who are in pain
are more likely to nod their head when the doctor is talking, ready to agree to
anything as opposed to discussing other less effective but safer options. If
they ever have qualms about the medication they will just say -"well the
doctor said it would help". Doctors may need to find ways of explaining
the dangers differently or at the very least be able to spend more time with
such patients on a more regular basis.
As the over prescription of such medications as opioids is
at least in part the result of people wanting quick and simple results, so is
the decision to solve at least part of the problem of abusing prescriptions by
printing bright yellow labels on the bottles. It sounds good. It sounds as if
someone is doing something. If such warnings stops two people from going down
the path to addiction it is worth it. But
for Health Canada to assume that opioid abuse is the result of a lack of
education profoundly misdirects the conversation of how and why addictions
happen. This initiative places the onus on the patient, when that
responsibility at the very least needs to be shared with those who are handing
out the pills.
