Are we losing our minds regarding opioids?

[Myriad]

I can't speak to the efficacy of this solution. I can only report what the label, and doctors, say.

Your manner of reporting of what the label says strongly implied that the poster you were responding to, who has experienced long-term analgesia needs and has had to manage a variety of different imperfect and sometimes risky medications, was only having a bad reaction to NSAIDs because they failed to read the label and follow the instructions to take the pills with food. This did come across as insulting under the circumstances.

Not as insulting as if you'd said, "the solution is to swallow the pills instead of rubbing them on your stomach," but still.

 

[Belz...]

Your manner of reporting of what the label says strongly implied that the poster you were responding to, who has experienced long-term analgesia needs and has had to manage a variety of different imperfect and sometimes risky medications, was only having a bad reaction to NSAIDs because they failed to read the label and follow the instructions to take the pills with food.

Given that I've just learned that several members of the forum don't have fire extinguishers, such an easy oversight would not be surprising. Some people simply don't know that about ibuprofen.

And what's with the tone policing?

This did come across as insulting under the circumstances.

It was a piece of advice. It says a lot about the state of some people that something simple and meant to be helpful is seen as insulting.

 

[Matthew Best]

And what's with the tone policing?

And what's with the tone policing?

 

[Belz...]

And what's with the tone policing?

Eh?

 

[Myriad]

Given that I've just learned that several members of the forum don't have fire extinguishers, such an easy oversight would not be surprising. Some people simply don't know that about ibuprofen.

And what's with the tone policing?


It was a piece of advice. It says a lot about the state of some people that something simple and meant to be helpful is seen as insulting.

You seemed surprised by the negative and dismissive reactions to your post, as the highlighted sentence further confirms.

Phrasing things that are intended to be simple and helpful so that they are not seen as insulting is a skill that comes naturally to some while others must pay attention and practice (and sometimes accept having failed, in order to learn). That care in phrasing is known as, among other things, tone. You can be unconcerned with tone if you wish, but then don't be surprised or angry when things you say that are meant to be helpful are seen by others as insulting.

"I don't have any trouble with NSAIDs myself, but the labels usually say you should take them with food. Does taking them that way help with the stomach irritation?"

vs.

"The solution to that is to eat before taking the thing."

The difference is, the former acknowledges that other people have different experiences than you so your suggestion may or may not be useful.

 

[Belz...]

"I don't have any trouble with NSAIDs myself, but the labels usually say you should take them with food. Does taking them that way help with the stomach irritation?"

vs.

"The solution to that is to eat before taking the thing."

The difference is, the former acknowledges that other people have different experiences than you so your suggestion may or may not be useful.

I don't believe for a second that the former would've been met any differently. In fact a very similar utterance by me WAS met with an angry response anyway. Some people are just looking for offense.

 

[Information Analyst]

If my maths is right that's around 0.03 deaths per thousand population in the UK and 0.13 deaths per thousand in the US.

For England & Wales, certainly. Scotland adds another 800 for only 5.3 million people, while NI is 86 out of 1.8 million. Overall that gives the UK a rate of 0.05 per 1,000.

 

[Information Analyst]

Fentanyl is now responsible for about two-thirds of all opiod overdose deaths, including roughly half of all prescription opiod overdoses.

Fentanyl is now a big cause for concern in the UK, even though it's accounting for less than 100 deaths per year - 3% of opioid-related deaths. It seems to be the case, though, that it's mostly down to it being used as a substitute (knowingly or not) for street heroin, rather than prescription abuse.

Oddly, despite the previously mentioned disparity between England & Wales and Scotland for opioid deaths overall, for Fentanyl it's actually very slightly lower in Scotland, but NI's rate is a whopping six times higher than all the others put together.

 

[luchog]

It says a lot about the state of some people that something simple and meant to be helpful is seen as insulting.

Body of work.