Not Your Average Drug User: The Hidden Downfalls of the Opioid Epidemic | David Wosnick | TEDxUofT

[shaner]

Thank you for completely nailing it.. 8 years as a functioning opioid patient of the system. Father, husband, friend, and construction worker. Busted up and tossed aside by a system with tied hands and helpless intent. Pain follows us but the relief isn't there.. I'm with you son, thanks for a well done video.. All the best and keep on fighting 💪

[shirleybuck]

David, Thank you so very much for speaking up. You did a fabulous job. Sadly we've lost so many beautiful people who were suffering terribly and felt that suicide was their only option. We cannot lose one more. We have to ALL COME TOGETHER if we want to win this fight for our lives. We're all dealing with different things and Intractable pain is something I wouldn't wish on anyone. Laying there most nights clock watching then dragging myself attempting to function the next day is torture in itself, especially by day five. We think we're hiding it, but we aren't, just like our fake smiles. My heart goes out to you. May your dream of being pain free or just manageable pain come true for you some day soon. I'll be praying for you, as hope and prayers are all I have left to offer anyone. Hugs! Take good care of yourself & be sure to reach out any time it gets to be too much, I'm always here if you need me. 🥰🤭💝

[WaismannMethod]

Anyone can succumb to opioid addiction whether they were taking opioids as prescribed for pain or illicitly for another reason. That image of a homeless person nodding off under the overpass isn't the "typical" opioid user. It can be your neighbor, accountant or aunt Sally who had two hip replacements. The sooner we stop treating people suffering from opioid use disorder like "addicts" the better care we can provide to them. Let's treat the person and not the condition.

[Meandmymirror]

And I don’t think we should blacklist people because they “abuse opiates“ obviously those people are suffering and internal type of pain that also needs to be addressed and not ignored or vilified

[sam_alleycat_]

Thank you for this. People need to know what we actually go through.

[XCHADHIGGINSX]

This was a great presentation! You're an extremely intelligent guy and a fantastic speaker. Super clear. Wonderfully concise. And you're speaking about a topic near and dear to my heart.

One drug that is often overlooked for treating chronic pain is methadone. I've been taking it for many years now and it's done wonders for me. And the great part about it is most clinics are aware of tolerance and allow you to gradually increase your dose to account for it. It doesn't work for everyone but I just thought I could recommend it to you in case you were interested. Stay strong buddy. You really did a great job with this!

[Meandmymirror]

Well said! You would think that humans would have the right to be free from pain as one of our fundamental rights. I always think about when I was in third grade and someone had done something wrong and nobody would admit it. So the teacher punish the whole class we’re making us stay in from recess with our heads down. That was my first experience with us phenomenon and it has stuck with me my whole life

[trishajalapeno]

An eye opening perspective. Thank you for sharing.

[richardstanleymaness]

Thank you for sharing.

I've been on high dose opioids for over 25 years and recently (last 3 to 4 years) I have had to deal with new doctors and new regimens. Once receiving near 200mg /day and having a functional life with average pain level of 3 to 4 and now 90mg /day mostly bed or chair ridden with average of 7 to 8 am many days spent in tears from the pain.

My perennial nerve was partially severed by an accidental gunshot wound.

My prayers and thoughts😢 are with you. I hope GOD intervenes soon and gives us a path for relief, at least better than we have now.

Richard Stanley Maness Sr

GOD's BLESSINGS & LUCK

[Human_]

Thanks for speaking out! This opiod banishing is killing pain pts.

[djsassy]

I feel for this guy and others like him. I myself am a chronic pain patient. Having had 7 ligament surgeries (first at 21). Shoulder, 3 x knee, 3 x wrist. I have over a period of 20 years tried everything (aside from stem cells as that would cost me everything and may not work...) after my last prp (plasma replacement therapy) on 4 areas my doctor told me that my main pain area (upper back, scapular) was like the "Bermuda triangle" of pain areas. None would touch it as it could be hundreds of different things.. he and my ex phys told me I needed to accept this..
It is so very hard to accept this in my 30's. I have 5-6 "quality of life" hours a day. The arthritis flare ups (knee/ankle) can last 12 months or longer. My sitting capacity is about 15min.
I have also completed a degree in psychology and have been accepted into postgraduate studies. I don't know if I can do it. I keep putting the starting date off. I have gained 30kg. I cannot and haven't been able to do the things that make me happy for years- running, judo, roller blading- even walking around the supermarket is hard (hurts to push the trolley around corners...)
I have been on the opiate journey now for 6 years. Going up and up until I can no longer go up anymore.

I don't think they work anymore. I am scared however to come off them. My tolerance is so high. I am also on 90mg of morphine a day.

I feel stuck, trapped. 😕

[AL-egoy]

You make a good point about how opioids can be hugely helpful for some. However, calling people who do sadly become addicted "reckless" is judgemental and untrue in many cases. Opioids are addictive by nature, pair that with physiological and psychological sensitivity/ tendency towards addiction and you have a perfect storm. Please don't cast aspersions about why people become addicted to make your case. There's enough stigma around addiction as it is, and it's hugely unhelpful.

[richardsanjose]

A very good intelligently thought out argument for adjusting the practices of opioid prescription by doctors it definitely needs work in Canada obviously

[leolady]

Thank you so much for this video! The system in the US is just as bad! Something needs to change soon!

[beth]

Thank you, you said it perfectly for all that are responsible opioid surviving patients. Its so sad when we have responsible Doctors who want to help us and due to regulations cannot. Again THANK YOU and im praying for all of us to find a solution. We must continue to live a productive happy life...😢 ❤ 😊

[matovicmmilan]

I completely empathize with you and agree with the nonsense of not giving people what they need but I don't like your scrutiny of the "people who abuse" these drugs. First of all: don't blame them, it wasn't them who came up with the idea of upper MMA limit and second: think about maybe they also want to relieve themselves of some mental/emotional agony that they go through 24/7 and opioids give them that relief?

[lisaschooler]

The speakers actual diagnosis is listed in the informational screen description. I do think he should have mentioned it at least at some point though, because that information would have been helpful if other people happen to be going through the same thing, however, rare it may be

[lbali]

A drug that is abused by some is restricted for all.

[tersamuno]

How do I approach my medical provider? I have so much pain from my neck. I take ibuprofen but now my doctor says that, "you shouldn't take it for too long". Thank you

[msutcliffe]

Beautifully said David. I'm in chronic pain but opioids fail to work. I also need blacklisting, Thats Probably why they don't work 🤔 ✌️❤