Obama Signs Bill to Curb Opioid Abuse But Decries Low Funding

July 26, 2016

  • July 26, 2016 at 11:53 am
    Ron says:
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    Drug abuse is not a problem that requires as much funding as President Obama has requested.

    It is not a disease, it is a lifestyle choice. If the addiction is a result of malpractice in prescribing pain medication, then hold the doctors liable for the treatment, not the taxpayers.

    Let the private insurance companies cover treatment and rehabilitation, not the government.

  • July 26, 2016 at 12:54 pm
    Stush says:
    Hot debate. What do you think?
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    Same old stuff, denial as usual. Lifestyle choice my A$$. After all the studies that have been done and we’ve studied this since 1965 (earliest date I can remember), and if it were so simple as lifestyle then we’d have confirmed that. but the problem doesn’t yield to “scientists” like you, who first decide the answer then repudiate all questions that don’t stand up to the conclusion…sounds like a load doesn’t it? well your take is a load too. No good will come from this until we all acknowledge the disease that it is. Too bad you don’t have first hand experience. I’d like you to have a child under the throes of addiction or better yet, have one die from an overdose, and then you can condemn your child for his/her “lifestyle choice”

    • July 26, 2016 at 1:57 pm
      Ron says:
      Hot debate. What do you think?
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      Stush,

      Exactly how does one become inflicted with this disease without making a conscious choice? Calling addiction a disease is giving the addicts an excuse/crutch.

      You said, “Too bad you don’t have first hand experience. I’d like you to have a child under the throes of addiction or better yet, have one die from an overdose, and then you can condemn your child for his/her ‘lifestyle choice'”. I am not condemning anyone. All I am saying is that they need to go somewhere else than the government for help. If one of my children became addicted, the government is the last place I would look for help.

      The government cannot, and should not, protect us from ourselves, period. We need to take personal responsibility for our choices.

    • July 26, 2016 at 1:59 pm
      Agent says:
      Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
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      Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

      • July 26, 2016 at 3:52 pm
        Ron says:
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        Agent,

        With whom do you agree, me or Stush?

      • July 27, 2016 at 8:42 am
        confused says:
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        You’re right agent. Drugs were never a problem before progressive socialists came into power.

        That’s why Lenny Bruce, Richard Burton, CoCo Chanel, Tommy Dorsey, Judy Garland, Jimi Hendrix, Marilyn Monroe, Keith Moon, Jim Morrison, Sid Vicious didn’t die from drug overdoses, because Clinton/Obama hadn’t messed up the country yet.

        That’s also why Reagan didn’t start the war on drugs and Nancy’s ‘just say no’ campaign didn’t happen until after Clinton/Obama became President.

        • July 27, 2016 at 3:11 pm
          Yogi Polar Berra says:
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          He was implying that drugs weren’t AS BIG A PROBLEM as they were before Dems / Progressives took over Congress and won a few POTUS elections.

          • July 28, 2016 at 10:11 am
            Agent says:
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            Correct Yogi, they weren’t as big a problem prior to the election of the pot smoking Slick Willy and later to the pot smoking Obama. Notice the big push for legalization of pot in many states in the past 7 1/2 years? They do it under the guise of positive medical use and then the recreational crowd benefits from the approval, free to carry on their dangerous lifestyle and yes, many “graduate” to the more dangerous drugs and their lives often end tragically. Drug dealers prey upon kids hoping to get them hooked and they know they will have a steady market.

          • July 28, 2016 at 10:33 am
            confused says:
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            The medicinal properties of marijuana can be traced back to 2900 BC in China to the bible (Exodus) to the New Testament (Jesus was anointed with it) to our founding fathers (Washington, Jefferson).

            http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000026

          • July 31, 2016 at 5:16 pm
            Captain Planet says:
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            Agent,
            quit watching re-runs of Miami Vice. It’s clear that is where you are getting all of your views from. I realize Don Johnson had some killer boat shoes, but it’s just not reality.

          • August 1, 2016 at 1:12 pm
            Yogi Polar Berra says:
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            China’s use of ‘medical marijuana’ was primarily due to MUCH LATER in history discovery of aspirin, etc. Once safer alternatives were available, marijuana was abandoned by smart people who wanted to avoid the long-term adverse health effects of mj.

        • July 31, 2016 at 5:11 pm
          Captain Planet says:
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          I’m so old, I remember the cocaine and ludes extravaganza of the 80’s. Let’s see, who was President then? Oh yeah, it was that crazy idiot actor guy who stole the election by dealing with the Iranians and then destroyed our country.

          • August 1, 2016 at 1:15 pm
            Yogi Polar Berra says:
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            There was no such a President of the USA.

            Perhaps you are thinking of another country? If so, find a comment board centered in THAT country on which to post your trashy, fiction-filled comments. EVERYONE with a sense of logic and reality will thank you for doing so.

          • August 1, 2016 at 1:34 pm
            Captain Planet says:
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            Sure there was, his name was Ronald Reagan. Arguably, the worst President ever.

      • July 27, 2016 at 4:12 pm
        What!? says:
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        Who goes from Marijuana straight to Meth!?!… then to cocaine? You are out of your mind

        • July 28, 2016 at 8:32 am
          Yogi Polar Berra says:
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          Not sure to whom you are responding.

          • July 28, 2016 at 8:36 am
            Yogi Polar Berra says:
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            If Agent, re-read his post. I do NOT see where he delineated a SPECIFIC progression of drug use. He listed several types that typically follow in some succession pattern after ‘beginner drugs’, such as marijuana. He used the terms ‘graduate’ and ‘farther out of control’, but did NOT give a specific order.

            Do you dispute a likely progression of drug use toward more destructive and deadly types once someone becomes addicted to ‘beginner drugs’?

          • July 28, 2016 at 11:16 am
            Ron says:
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            Yogi Polar Berra,

            You asked, “Do you dispute a likely progression of drug use toward more destructive and deadly types once someone becomes addicted to ‘beginner drugs’?”

            Absolutely. If that were the case, would not nearly everyone who used marijuana would have progressed toward more destructive and deadly drugs? And even if they did, why should the government care? Where does it state in the Constitution that the government needs to protect its citizens from themselves?

          • July 29, 2016 at 1:28 pm
            Yogi Polar Berra says:
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            Define in specific numeric terms ‘nearly everyone’.

          • July 29, 2016 at 1:30 pm
            confused says:
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            80% of people or more = nearly everyone

          • July 29, 2016 at 1:33 pm
            Yogi Polar Berra says:
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            @Ron: The Declaration of Independence states “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”.

            The right of US citizens to be protected by a REPRESENTATIVE government would fall under the first of those three unalienable rights.

            If you prefer that a government NOT protect its citizens, you have the option to move to Cuba, North Korea, Turkey, Iran, etc.

            In the future, stop asking absolutely ridiculous questions. I will no longer respond to such diversionary tactics.

          • July 30, 2016 at 8:31 am
            Ron says:
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            Yogi Polar Berra,

            I asked, “Where does it state in the CONSTITUTION that the government needs to protect its citizens from themselves?” The Declaration of Independence is NOT the law of the land. The government only has the obligation to protect its citizens from others.

            Furthermore, if you want to use the Declaration of Independence, if drugs make people happy, why do you want the government to stop their pursuit?

            This not diversionary, it is the crux of my argument that the government should, based on the Constitution, stay out of private lives.

          • August 1, 2016 at 7:27 am
            Yogi Polar Berra says:
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            Absolutely diversionary, and will receive no further response from me.

  • July 26, 2016 at 2:18 pm
    Jack Kanauph says:
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    I am wondering where the Democrats were getting the billion dollars? Isn’t the USA in debt enough?

    • July 27, 2016 at 12:56 pm
      Agent says:
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      Jack, $19.4 Trillion isn’t quite enough debt. Obama is shooting for an even $20 Trillion before he exits in January.

      • July 27, 2016 at 2:13 pm
        Ron says:
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        Agent,

        Quit dodging questions.

        With whom do you agree, me or Stush?

        • July 28, 2016 at 8:37 am
          Yogi Polar Berra says:
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          @Ron; why do you think his disagreement with liberals must be singular and mutually exclusive?

          • July 28, 2016 at 10:11 am
            Ron says:
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            Yogi Polar Berra,

            Simple, Stush and I had a disagreement on a specific topic and I was just curious with whom he sided.

            With whom do you agree?

          • July 29, 2016 at 1:35 pm
            Yogi Polar Berra says:
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            I am not taking sides in your disagreement.

          • July 30, 2016 at 8:34 am
            Ron says:
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            Why? Are you for or against the government spending our money to fix people’s poor life choices to engage in illegal behavior?

          • August 1, 2016 at 7:29 am
            Yogi Polar Berra says:
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            I am FOR the US government enforcing immigration laws and drug laws.

            Stop twisting the debate on addictions and law breaking into one on law enforcement preferences.

          • August 1, 2016 at 12:20 pm
            Ron says:
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            Yogi Polar Berra,

            Re-read my question. When did I say ANYTHING about law enforcement?

            I am getting the distinct impression that you have absolutely no clue what this debate is about.

            Just walk away with your tail between your legs.

        • August 1, 2016 at 1:17 pm
          Yogi Polar Berra says:
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          This section of this comment board seems to be BOT free.

          I wonder how the liberals BOT software was negated? Perhaps they forgot to recharge their “BOTTERIE’s” (sic)?

  • July 28, 2016 at 12:45 pm
    Elizabeth says:
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    Perhaps to fund this, the pharmaceutical companies should be taxed since they earn profit off of selling them in the first place. If they legalize the illegal opioids they can earn tax off of them too. I swear that kids in particular do drugs for either attention, boredom or because they think they are getting away with something illegal. There are also a lot of stresses in life too sooo if we tackle the reason people take opioids perhaps they wouldn’t be an issue. How about cutting out sugar?…sugar is an addiction and it is the cause for so many illnesses, including chronic pain from inflammation. Enough said :)

    • July 28, 2016 at 3:57 pm
      txmouthbreatherboogereatertx says:
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      Great point, we can’t paint every case with the broadest of brushes.

    • July 29, 2016 at 1:36 pm
      Yogi Polar Berra says:
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      Perhaps the costs should be addressed, rather than reinforced through taxation? Cost control measures work in MANY other lines of insurance, so why not in healthcare / prescription drugs/ drug abuse & addiction?

  • July 28, 2016 at 2:03 pm
    Stush says:
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    All,
    after much thought and discussion, someone mentioned that because I am too close to this personally (children with addiction), my wife said that I can’t really have an unbiased opinion on this. She pointed out that while people may have a genetic switch in them that makes addiction unavoidable, it is the initial decision to drink or smoke and to take drugs that is being overlooked. We KNOW that there are addictive substances out there, yet these kids chose to play with fire and get themselves involved with drugs. By then it is too late. So maybe it is personal choice that starts the ball rolling but I find no solace in knowing they did this to themselves through ignorance. But getting off drugs is another issue altogether and it doesn’t matter who is to blame, only that this affects people of all walks of life. for that reason, it is an appropriate issue for us to tackle together (as in legislation to fund the treatment?. I know that is what bothers folks who think we shouldn’t use government to resolve things like this; but families can’t handle this on their own. And more than that, why should the richest country on earth be unable to help its own citizens? We do that all the time with tax cuts for the wealthy…why should they be the only sector of society that benefits from government policy? If we can afford guns, why not butter too?

    • July 28, 2016 at 4:47 pm
      Agent says:
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      Stush, you almost made a good comment until you got to the part about cutting taxes to the rich. Apparently, you haven’t been paying attention. The rich have had their taxes increased under Obama for 8 years in his quest to punish the job creators. No wonder so many entrepreneurs have moved their operation off shore.

      By the way, AA has been trying to help alcoholics for as long as I can remember. Most alcoholics I know continue to fall off the wagon if they have a personal crisis in their life. It is a vicious cycle and drug addicts may be even worse. They get hooked early on, graduate to more serious drugs and then destroy their lives and sometimes others with their habit along with committing crimes to fuel their habit.

      • July 29, 2016 at 8:18 am
        Ron says:
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        Agent,

        You have criticized me for agreeing then disagreeing with you in one post.

        HYPOCRITE!!!!

        I still want to know whose original post, on this topic, do you agree, Stush’s or mine?

        • July 29, 2016 at 1:38 pm
          Yogi Polar Berra says:
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          Perhaps he disagrees with BOTH of you?

          Perhaps you should consult with the voters who cast thumbs up and thumbs down on both of your comments? Who is favored by voters? Note that it is unlikely that the votes are tainted by the presence of BOT votes because those are only used to suppress opinions of conservative posters.

          • July 29, 2016 at 1:50 pm
            confused says:
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            classic yogi post

            The voters are out to get me and all conservatives so the votes don’t matter on our posts! The voters aren’t out to get you and all votes on your posts count! Since you have less votes than me, people agree with me!”

            ….but if votes don’t count on your posts, you can’t say “I have more votes than you so more people agree with me”

            …or is your stance “only likes on conservative posts count and only dislikes on liberal posts count”?

          • August 1, 2016 at 7:31 am
            Yogi Polar Berra says:
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            Not quite.

            The LIBERALS who use BOTS are out to get me (Yogi).

            Don’t expand my words to include what I didn’t write.

  • July 31, 2016 at 5:06 pm
    Captain Planet says:
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    Agent,
    Whenever you topic drugs, it shows how very little you actually know about the subject matter. A person chooses a particular drug for a particular high. They don’t graduate onto different drugs. That’s ridiculous. Why would someone who smokes weed to mellow out (much like having a brandy at the end of the workday) want to switch gears and take a drug like coke or meth that does the exact opposite? The tweak-happy junkies stealing our money on Wall Street snort drugs to speed up and stay awake. That is the high they are going after. They say about 70%-80% of NBA players smoke weed. Why don’t we see a large meth and coke epidemic in the NBA? Why don’t they talk about Dustin Johnson’s weed-smoking habits? You are so obviously clueless and you look foolish every time you post about this.

    • August 1, 2016 at 7:32 am
      Yogi Polar Berra says:
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      It’s not seen because the NBA players with those addictions are hiding them.

      • August 1, 2016 at 1:36 pm
        Captain Planet says:
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        All meth addicts have to do is smile and they have revealed themselves. And, if not their teeth, how about the scabs on their face and sunken cheeks and eyes? Yogi, you are in the same sinking boat as Agent, you are clueless on this topic.

    • August 1, 2016 at 1:46 pm
      txmouthbreatherboogereatertx says:
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      While it is true that coke is prevalent in all major sports as well as political rallies like NASCAR and ‘rasslin’, the very concept that pot is a gateway drug is highly exaggerated. Unfortunately the Southern Baptist Convention produced a series of black and white films on the use of “marijuana cigarettes” shown during phys ed. Those same producers also created numerous sex ed and drivers ed films as well. The capstone film was about Georgie taking his best gal Susie up to inspiration point after the hop. He was racing his Corvair to the top when he pulled out one of those marijuana cigarettes to started smoking it. He then go Susie preggers which was quickly terminated. That marijuana cigarette was the first of many drugs but he later became President.



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