So at the very least this program and similar efforts are a start and should receive credit for that. Without being an expert in this in any sense other than as one who has found the subject of opioid ‘reliance’ of great interest it seems that it misses a key element.

How severe is ones ‘addiction’? In other words, it seems to make sense that one user compared to the next will have serious differences. Differences in that not all users are cookie-cut and the same. So if one is taking a certain dosage, and the next person is taking a different dosage, (let’s say it’s the same drug), given that both may have begun abusing on the same date, OR not! It seems to me this addresses some pretty potentially important issues as to treatment for these two people. That treatment will be markedly different for each. This is just for starters.

One reads about the deaths from overdosing and the question looms: how uninformed are these unfortunate souls? Again, who in their right mind is going to swallow a handful of pills without carrying a very careful and well administered ‘plan’? Is the abuser an educated person with a good job getting opioids from their doctor? Or is the user someone off the street, perhaps homeless, taking whatever is handed him? This will impact hugely on the outcome on a case by case. So it seems to me that the dialogue containing certain observations and or guidance will vary according to each users set of issues…

Food for thought. Yeah I know this might get some sharp reactions, I don’t really care, just trying to help.