alt Hacker NewsOn the one hand, I'm sure that the post you're responding to is referencing many previous failed attempts at making non-addictive opioid painkillers.
But on the other, non-sarcastic side... if addiction is the only remaining problem with them, should we care that much?
I.E. if both the chronic and acute health risks are gone (which I don't think they are for a second, but follow me along on this little thought experiment)... does it matter quite so much? Clearly addiction, in the abstract, is not exactly a good thing. But if it's not coupled to risk of death it seems to me it would be a great thing to transition addicted people to, and take away some of the urgency of the situation.
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I agree. I would say that I am addicted to caffeine. I definitely get withdrawal symptoms if I don't have a coffee. But since it is so accessible and there are no health risks, it does not affect me negatively to "feed" the addiction.
There's already buprenorphine and methadone. But, using either means some degree of responsibility, punctuality, etc. So unless you mean freely distributing it with very little process, it wouldn't change much.
I mean I guess it depends on the level of use? Do you need to be nodding off, drooling on the verge of respiratory collapse to cope with the dread of your situation? (I feel like people are mostly only considering the physical reasons for starting opiates in this post btw). Or is it a more reasonable dose that allows you to participate in society unencumbered by your pains? (Which in any case is a slippery slope with long term use)
> if addiction is the only remaining problem with them, should we care that much?
Have you _seen_ what the streets of major cities look like these days? Ever heard of "fent zombies"?
> .. if addiction is the only remaining problem with them, should we care that much?
I think we should because it’s undignified to have people who want to stop taking them but are unable to resist the compulsion. I feel the same way about basically every addictive substance. Even if it was freely available and risk-free I still think that being trapped in a cycle of use and withdrawal is such an affront to someone’s dignity that we should still try to prevent that.