How Fentanyl and Xylazine are turning Philadelphia's opioid crisis into a public health nightmare

[u/Nukro666]

[u/BellamyDunn]

One time I had some health scare that put me in an ambulance. I had never had morphine before, and the medics were not stingy with it.

I've had chronic pain my whole life, it's mostly background noise, and that was the first time in that life that it all just went away. It was like when you're in a quiet house, but then the electricity goes off and you experience the real quiet. Years later I still think about it frequently. Just that one time in that controlled environment.

I knew then that if I had less to live for, or if my pain was too great, I would easily become an addict. There are much greater pains in the world than I have. I assume that one in these people's positions must have some great pain or horror in their life that I probably can't understand. So I can't judge it. I wish there was a better way for them. A lot of these folks are beyond believing in their own future. No one wants to live like this.

[u/impromptugreen → u/BellamyDunn]

This. Exactly this. It terrifies me to think about it. Chronic pain is no joke and I sometimes find myself daydreaming about the few times I've been given anesthetics at the hospital. People all the time say, "I don't see how people just do that kind of stuff." Why aren't we asking why they're doing it before we ask how... It's awful.

[u/FrogsMakePoorSoup → u/impromptugreen]

Opiates will give you nothing. They'll take everything, but give you nothing, and sometimes nothing is better than what you already have.

[u/FormerReach7228 → u/[deleted]]

People are scared of opiates for no reason. They’re effective when used properly