Hillary Clinton Campaign Begins Drafting Policy Solutions To Heroin Epidemic

[RandySF]

WASHINGTON -- After hearing story after story from voters on the campaign trail about heroin's toll, Hillary Clinton instructed her policy team to draw up solutions to the burgeoning opiate epidemic.

A Clinton aide told The Huffington Post that the Democratic presidential candidate decided to make mental health and drug addiction a major campaign issue after stops in Iowa and New Hampshire, where she kept hearing from people that the problem needs more attention. It's the type of issue that may not get much attention inside the Beltway and on Sunday talk shows, but opiate addiction has become a devastating problem.

Clinton brought it up on Monday during a stop in Iowa, telling supporters that she wants to "end the stigma against talking about it."

“When I started running, when I started thinking about this campaign, I did not believe I would be standing in your living room talking about the drug abuse problem, the mental health problem, and the suicide problem," she said at the home of one of the first gay couples in the state to wed. “But I’m now convinced I have to talk about it. I have to do everything I can in this campaign to raise it, to end the stigma against talking about it."



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/18/hillary-clinton-heroin_n_7309930.html

[morningfog]

1. Sounds good. I look forward to the proposals.

[NYC_SKP]

2. She might make a very good Secretary of Health and Human Services.

She's got skills in that realm, and compassion.

[Luminous Animal]

3. What stigma about talking about addiction? Really? There is a stigma of talking about it?

[TDale313]

15. Yes, there is.

And yes, drug use and addiction are a real issue and addressing that is not actually a bad thing. I'm not a Hillary supporter, but I don't have a problem with this at all.

[Luminous Animal]

4. Is there an opiate epidemic? Has opiate addiction become more of a devastating problem

than it was 100 years ago?

[Jesus Malverde]

6. Oxycoton deaths are not unusual.

I've seen many nodding out in SF, many more than in the past.

[JonLP24]

10. I know exactly what you're referring too

It is like this zombie-like state. I known this woman, nice, generous, I liked her but that zombie state she would turn in the world's worst thief, so transparent but backs the lie with a lie, it is more amusing than threatening especially seeing her tell a story that reflects poorly then go that person tell the similar story but now making the other guy reflect poorly, told multiple variations of the same story -- she was in a class of her own for that type of area but the zombie stuff I knew what was coming.

[JonLP24]

9. I don't see problems with finding ways to address the issue as it exists

Dope sickness is very unusual from my POV which drives the addiction. They aren't picking up again because they want to experience the high again, its more about making the sickness go away until they get sick again, again, and again. Myself, I'd focus on getting easier access to suboxen and overall moving past a one size fits all when it comes to drug treatment. I'd also end the war on drugs as well.

[Hekate]

12. Doctors were told that OxyContin was not addictive, and prescribed it freely.

When docs stop prescribing it to addicted patients, they go looking for heroin, which is apparently easy to find. OxyContin has been called hillbilly heroin for quite a few years now, as it is also peddled illegally.

Yes, actually, it is an epidemic. Wide swathes of rural areas far from the big cities are being devastated.

Now you know.

[JonLP24]

13. I don't know how that could have caught on

What doctors were told, I'd question that because Percocet is a big black market drug and and all the similar issues of opiate-based withdrawal. I'm suspicious because opiate withdrawal is well known. for awhile.

[Hekate]

17. I read that somewhere recently, probably the LA Times. Personally I mistrust Big Pharma....

....when it comes to addictive drugs, because in too many cases they are pushers in suits. They aggressively market their products, and at times will vastly overproduce certain drugs, almost as if they expect it to be both stolen and over prescribed.

[JonLP24]

20. I don't doubt them selling that

I doubt the idea doctors believed since I imagine they had a far better education on medicine but if you're doctor with a private shop the business depends on selling prescriptions so just basically where the doctor shoppers & other people go.

[FSogol]

41. NPR did a great story on this today.

Portsmouth was the pill mill capital of America, really. They had more pill mills per capita in that town than anywhere else in the country. Pill mills are where a doctor prescribes pills for cash without almost any diagnosis of any pain problems or anything like that. Pill mills usually have long, long lines — Portsmouth had a dozen of these, and they prescribed millions of pills a year and was one of the main reasons why so many people got addicted there.

The godfather of all that was a guy by the name of David Proctor. And by the 1990s when the main painkiller in all this, Oxycontin, is released, he sees this as basically a business model. You can prescribe these pills and people will pay you $250 every month to get that prescription, and you will always have your clinic full. And that's what happened for many years in that town. He also taught a lot of doctors who came to work for him how to run these pill mills.

So he became kind of the Ray Kroc, the McDonald's of pill mills with one Kentucky cop — and all these doctors went out on their own and spread this pill mill phenomenon to eastern Kentucky, parts of West Virginia and other parts of Ohio. It was a big part of how this epidemic got going early on.

http://www.npr.org/2015/05/19/404184355/how-heroin-made-its-way-from-rural-mexico-to-small-town-america

The article was based on a new book: "Dreamland The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic" by Sam Quinones

[RandySF]

27. It may not be THE issue facing the country, but it is an issue.

All you have to do is listen to families of addicts who share one horror story after another about the patchwork of treatment resources around the country that mostly follows an outdated program of shame and "cold turnkey". Hillary went out on a listening tour, people came to her about it and so she wants to do something about it.

[NCTraveler]

43. You post is exactly why it would be great if she talked about this topic.

So many want to frame it in the way you are here and it is so damaging. Just sweep it under the rug. If she decides to make this a major component it will be great. So many need to be educated on this topic. People dismissing it, as you have done here, will become educated on its devastating impact on individuals and families in this country. Your reply makes her point.

[Bluenorthwest]

46. Yes particularly in rural areas that previously saw little opiate use. Hillary is in Iowa, 10 days

ago several major arrests in an investigation to heroin dealing related to 5 deaths last year. Iowa's heroin deaths more than doubled in 2013.
I would expect this issue to be one Bernie is well informed about because Vermont has been facing similar problems and dealing with those challenges better than other States have been. Vermont is setting excellent examples for other States and Bernie would most certainly be aware of and supportive of the work his State is doing.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

5. In terms of improving her chances of becoming POTUS, Hillary would be wise to pay more attention to solving her husband's sex addiction than dealing with the heroin problem.

[Lil Missy]

24. That is just stupid. Were you kidding?

[RandySF]

28. If this is the best Team Sanders/Warren can do.

Hillary will sail through.

[NCTraveler]

44. Must be extremely tough for you living in a blue state. nt.

[Luminous Animal]

7. Typical. Her first policy position is about addicts. An extremely small part of the population

that both Dems and Reps kick around.

[TDale313]

16. It sounds like it's about resources for

People dealing with addiction or mental health issues. Not seeing how that's a bad thing.

[JDPriestly]

35. Very perceptive.

Bernie's plan for universal healthcare a la the Europeans and other developed nations is way ahead of Hillary's. I think Hillary is at the kindergarten level in terms of her understanding of the problems of ordinary people in the US.

But, hey, at least she is trying.

I'm a Bernie and Elizabeth supporter and have volunteered for Bernie, but the more people that realize what an abominable healthcare system we have, the better.

[NCTraveler]

45. Yes. You are right. Mental health is such a small issue.

We talk about it so openly and honestly in this country. Once again, you have proven how right Hillary is in her comments. It is clear that education is necessary.

[JonLP24]

8. I first used weed in 2001 for well over decade never seen heroin never

known an heroin addict. I've seen other common street drugs (LSD was rare, I only heard it was around like once ever in 2001) -- Flagstaff was a different story, people were using it but I didn't them but I was scared of being in just right the mindset to avoid a bad trip that it wasn't something appealing. I'm also forget another who used it years later in Washington.

I went to a rehab for an alcohol reason, in Aberdeen, Washington. First time I met heroin addicts, as it is noticeable widespread with all the heroin addicts there an at the AA/NA meetings down the near very nice neighborhoods. IIRC a high school, there was the meetings and just a block west was run down buildings that was called "felony flats" by the locals. The claim to fame is this is where Kurt Cobain grew up. I was told he wrote a song about living under the bridge by the river west of "felony flats". The river I hear is big for social drug socializing. One also told me as it is not a very big town that you become known if you commit left for instances putting you into bind to recover from the situation influenced by using.

I get back to Arizona same story. Right around after the 2000s is when I suddenly like one-by-one know people who never touched it never used it become heroin addicts full scale in a couple of years. I was homeless so at places you tend to go to when you're homeless you start meeting the same people, know more heroin addicts. I tried it once myself, the high wasn't great but I didn't inject it. Nothing noticeable like a "high" or a "buzz" just felt like I took some painkillers -- I never had an addiction for that. Many heroin addicts actually started out as Percocet addicts and the negative withdrawal effects are the same "I was worse on painkillers". One thing I do know it is the physical illness that drives the continuing, unstoppable addiction. The high is overrated but illness is so intolerable I've known people to give away heroin sympathetic to the experiences of "dope sickness" that alone was enough to get me to avoid ever using it enough to get to that point. Dope sickness & heroin, it is rare if I ever met someone that didn't do something unethical (I mean in personal relationships rather than shop lifting which is a very low level misdemeanor quite common where dervision programs are standard.

The supply increased from almost nowhere nothing to so incredibly common. I don't know where to find weed anymore but heroin is much easier to find. Suboxen is pretty good I hear though. I'd recommend starting their as I hear positive experiences with that. It is methadone -- not so much. Keep in mind though, opiate addictions of all types lead to similar withdrawal issues.

[Hekate]

14. Jon, you have the timeline right, and BushCheney's invasion of Afghanistan was the flashpoint

The Taliban did a good job of suppressing poppy-growing in Afghanistan during the years they were in power. However, farming is a poor occupation in that arid land, and the farmers hid bags of poppy seeds beneath their floors as a future cash crop.

Enter BushCheney to overthrow the Taliban and bring democracy overnight, whoopee. Of all the stupid stupid stupid things that bunch did, this was one of the stupidest: they did nothing to actually help the farmers improve their lives economically.

I think it was the NY Times where I read the analysis. The rebound of the poppy was all laid out in stark and stunning detail, and every word has come true. In the first two years addiction rates in towns along the border started rising, especially as addicts started drifting there for easier access. Then it just exploded as old supply lines to the West were re-established and new ones sprang up.

Heroin was cheap and plentiful, and while the old mullahs objected on religious grounds, the new warlords do not give a flying fuck because they can make lots of money off addicted Westerners, and hey, we're just the Great Satan.

[JonLP24]

19. I wanted to say it

but I'm afraid so much of what I say is dismissed as conspiracy when it is facts from dedicated research limited to what's available from open sources but while I speculate here or there I'm just left not knowing what is really going on. Heroin can be stored and later sold at a time to sell it at higher costs. What is known is the CIA teamed up with drug traffickers in Afghanistan before they did it Nicuragua. US has had some long-term economic motive there. Afghanistan (don't know about this or last year but they are top 5 corrupt country and the Pentagon's own admission they are primary cause of that with the CIA teaming up with war lords & drug traffickers. In addition to contracts where the project was simply left unfinished. Wordwide heroin supply is exploding out of Afghanistan.

But I don't think Democracy was the end game strategy here. Not sure what it is but something, I'd like to know what is really going on but I don't ever buy freedom or human rights reasons because of the obvious double standards though Taliban you'd have to look hard but not much further past Saudi Arabia on worse records on Womens rights. They were initially a US ally because they appeared to offer a favorable outlook on a US oil company (from a 90s book) and they were an enemy of my enemy to Iran.

I don't doubt the wiped it out as they would if they were consistent in their beliefs which execute for simple drug possession but on the other hand terror groups as any similar group but also the massive profits I tend to believe US venture capitalists want a piece of that action. I don't know but would like to know. I do know in the late 2000s Afghanistan was rocked by one the worst banking crisis in history. I'm sure that had something to do with something.

Improving labor rights certainly not near the list but they were still concerned with was keeping Russia out, oddly enough

The encrypted document, which is dated October 6, and believed to be current, can be found on the Pentagon Central Command (CENTCOM) website oneteam.centcom.mil. [UPDATE: Fri Feb 27 15:18:38 GMT 2009, the entire Pentagon site is now down--probably in response to this editorial, parts of the site can still be seen in Google's cache ]

The encryption password is progress, which perhaps reflects the Pentagon's desire to stay on-message, even to itself.

Among the revelations, which we encourage the press to review in detail, is Jordan's presence as secret member of the US lead occupation force, the ISAF.

Jordan is a middle eastern monarchy, backed by the US, and historically the CIA's closest partner in its extraordinary rendition program. "the practice of torture is routine" in the country, according to a January 2007 report by UN special investigator for torture, Manfred Nowak.[1]

The document states NATO spokespersons are to keep Jordan's involvement secret. Publicly, Jordan withdrew in 2001 and the country does not appear on this month's public list of ISAF member states.[2]

Some other notes on matters to treat delicately are:

Any decision on the end date/end state will be taken by the respective national and/or Alliance political committee. Under no circumstances should the mission end-date be a topic for speculation in public by any NATO/ISAF spokespeople.
The term "compensation" is inappropriate and should not be used because it brings with it legal implications that do not apply.
Any talk of stationing or deploying Russian military assets in Afghanistan is out of the question and has never been the subject of any considerations.
Only if pressed: ISAF forces are frequently fired at from inside Pakistan, very close to the border. In some cases defensive fire is required, against specific threats. Wherever possible, such fire is pre-coordinated with the Pakistani military.

Altogether four classified or restricted NATO documents on the Pentagon Central Command (CENTCOM) site were discovered to share the 'progress' password. Wikileaks has decrypted the documents and released them in full:

https://wikileaks.org/wiki/Wikileaks_cracks_NATO%27s_Master_Narrative_for_Afghanistan

[Hekate]

11. When she said she was going to listen to people, she really meant it. nt

[daredtowork]

18. Crime, Welfare, and Drugs

Let the Triangulation Hokey Pokey begin!

CALLER: Everyone take a big old step to the right to make sure you are in the triangle now!

You put your right hand in,
You put your right hand out,
You put your right hand in,
And you shake it all about,

You do the hokey pokey
and you turn yourself around
That what it's all about.

[TDale313]

21. It sounds like she's talking about policies/resources to help

People dealing with addiction or mental health issues. I'm not a Hillary supporter, but to me this seems like kind of a good thing- and actually pretty liberal.

[daredtowork]

22. This is her policy page, so of course

Hillary is listing what she is willing to do. Those on the right always want to hear about people dealing with drugs and alcohol and mental illness - that's supposed to be the reason people are poor right? It couldn't possibly be structural unemployment or other fumbled health and social programs policy.

What I'm pointing out is what is glaringly MISSING from Hillary's proposals. Of course what she has to say sounds good - these are her soundbites on welfare. However, everything that's there dovetails very well with Bill Clinton's "welfare reform as we know it", which makes life hell for anyone who has fallen into that situation merely because they are trying to apply for SSI. Hillary's speeches in Iowa sang the same song.

[TDale313]

23. Well, yes, the devil's in the details.

And I kinda get what you're saying, but the way she was discussing this didn't sound like it was in those terms. And we actually do need more resources for those things and less stigma for seeking help. But I could be wrong.

[daredtowork]

25. This is where I hear the dog whistle.

Drugs/alcohol...work...childcare (for high-powered working women)...

But as I told KMOD, you might actually have to have been on welfare and have seen what's wrong with that picture before you know what Hillary is omitting.

[JDPriestly]

33. Bernie's idea of universal healthcare similar to the model in any or one of the

European countries would be a good starting place.

Heroin addicts eventually very often end up in hospitals. That is where you can begin to give them help or get them to recognize that they need help.

[TDale313]

40. Good point.

[JDPriestly]

34. True.

[msongs]

26. heroin is NOT an epidemic. and epidemic is something any person in a population has a chance to get.

heroin use starts as a behavioral choice

[RandySF]

30. Maybe not, but for every family with an addicted member, it's their 24/7 issue.

[JDPriestly]

31. True. Same for other addictions like meth and even alcohol.

Prescription drugs true.

Apparently there is a lot of heroin in the Midwest. My family has mentioned it in their small town.

I'm in Los Angeles. Drugs and alcohol are not problems among my friends and neighbors. Most of the people I know are very interested in good health. I wonder if it is the climate.

[RandySF]

32. Wow. No heroin in LA?

[JDPriestly]

37. I know there was a lot of meth especially in the surrounding counties about 7-10

years ago. I'm just not in an age group or a social milieu in which I am aware of heroin availability. It may be here. Not among my friends and acquaintances.

Or maybe I am too naive about drugs to realize it is there.

[JDPriestly]

29. Mental health issues are also keys to our police abuse of force issues, our

gun violence issues and our child neglect issues as well as our high divorce rate.

All issues related to mental health and our lack of funding and respect for mental healthcare.

[cali]

36. As long as she doesn't start advocating for making it even more difficult

to get opiates for those of us who legitimately need them. I have type II Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. I'm careful about taking oxcycodone, but I need it.

[Fumesucker]

38. Two of my neighbors are battling addiction right now...

Both in the same household, the wife is addicted to opiate pills, loritab, oxy, whatever while the husband is addicted to alcohol.

Oddly enough the husband has no real problem holding down a full time fairly well paying job while the wife hasn't worked in a decade.

Of course they are both addicted to cigarettes.

Physically I suspect the alcohol will kill the husband first but he can go to the convenience store every day on his way home from work and pick up his 24 pack of beer, the wife is shuttling around to a wide variety of sources to pick up her drugs of choice and spends a lot of time riding around on the road often in a state where she shouldn't be on the road in the first place.

I actually like both of them, they are friends as well as neighbors, my wish is that Hillary's team will find some way to actually better the lives of my neighbors but I'll be downright shocked if her team will come up with anything that doesn't make them far worse off.

[lovemydog]

39. Reducing the stigma, ending imprisonment, releasing drug related

offenders from prison, funding real treatment programs, these may all be a good start.

[seaglass]

42. Poll finds great awareness — and fear — of opioid abuse

Nearly three-quarters of Massachusetts adults believe heroin use is an extreme or very serious problem in the state, and almost four in 10 adults know someone who has abused prescription painkillers in the last five years, according to a survey by The Boston Globe and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The poll also found that Massachusetts residents are more worried about opioid abuse than are Americans generally, and that more adults here believe prescription drug abuse is getting worse.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/05/16/opioid-abuse-considered-widespread-serious-poll-finds/GbvBiLJDROWq42850i5UVJ/story.html

...
More than 1,000 people in the state are believed to have died from opioid overdoses last year, a 33 percent increase over 2012.
...
The surveys also found that Massachusetts residents are more aggressive than the rest of the country in pushing for tools to help addicts, both at the time of overdose and in treatment afterward.

Massachusetts adults showed greater support for making naloxone, a drug that reverses opioid overdoses, available to the public, and a greater willingess to require insurers to cover treatment for drug addiction.

...
“We have this dichotomy where people recognize that overprescribing is one of the problems, but when you ask if there should be more regulation, people say no,” Blendon said.

I am onboard with anyone who recognizes that this is an important problem that needs to be dealt with and also recognize that this is getting more visibility because there has been an increase in middle/upper class opiate/heroin addicts - especially among late teen-college kids.