Overdose, Prescription Painkillers,Nobel Winner Kahneman,and Rational Choices

 In the November 21, 2011 issue of Time was an article that stated within the last 10 years, more Americans died from an overdose of prescription painkillers than from heroin and cocaine use combined.  In the article, it is believed that most of the deaths were related to achieve a narcotic high as supposed to treating pain.  For example, recreational abuse has increased by 300% in sales for drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone and methadone.  Once the users get hooked on these drugs, the more they crave.

So what may start out as a legitimate use to relieve pain can result in the misuse of these medications?  And apparently these individuals who are misusing medication are clever enough to keep themselves supplied.  How many years have we had a war on “illegal drugs?” That war has been an apparent failure.  Perhaps it might be more beneficial to legalize these drugs and establish some mechanism to deal with all drugs-prescription and nonprescription.

We know there are other treatments other than medication to treat pain.  I have an insurance plan that deals with only prescription medication.  The other techniques such as yoga, hypnosis, progressive relaxation, and fitness are generally not covered by medical insurance. It would seem to me that before ingesting a pill, some of these other treatments would be considered.  In order to do that, one would have to deal with the drug and insurance industries. Another possibility for change is by educating the public about the other treatments available.  I know taking a pill is easy and quick so that changing attitudes is a difficult challenge.

Yesterday during my run, I experienced some discomfort.  I did take Advil and iced for 30 minutes three times.  Today, I have no discomfort.   In thinking back, I have run about two consecutive weeks without a day off.  Now is my chance to take a day off.  I want to be ready to run again since Secretariat returns from Southern California today.

In the Time issue dated November 28, 2011, there was a question presented to psychologist and Nobel winning economist Daniel Kahneman on why people do not make rational choices “what is your favorite experiment that demonstrates our blindness to our own blindness?”  His response: it is one someone else did.  During the 90s, when there was terrorist activity in Thailand, people were asked how much they’d pay for a travel insurance policy that pays $100,000, in case of death for any reason.  Others were asked how much they’d pay for a policy that pays $100,000 for death in a terrorist act.  And people will pay more for the second even though it is less likely. Dr. Kahneman stated “we are normally blind about our own blindness.  We are generally overconfident in our own opinions and our impressions and judgments.  We exaggerate how knowledgeable the world is.”

Make sure to have your eyes checked, and to wear the proper sunglasses when you are in the sun in order to reduce blindness? "Pain is a part of being alive, and we need to learn that. Pain does not last forever, nor is it necessarily unbeatable, and we need to be taught that."– Harold Kushner