Pill Popping April 8 Private Eye column
Your column is unfortunately absolutely accurate. There is a widespread conspiracy to overdose us, all with the best possible intentions.
In our family, we have never found it necessary to use more than a small fraction of the painkillers prescribed after injuries or surgery. A prime example occurred when my wife had dental implants some years ago. The surgeon sensibly prescribed sufficient painkillers to get her through the immediate consequences.
I later got an official rebuke from my Medicare D insurance company saying that they were covering this but only as an exception in the future, would I please ask the surgeon to prescribe an appropriate quantity (presumably a generous 30-day supply). I was unfortunately too slow-witted to think that I could have asked for a massive refill, sold the pills on the street and taken my wife on a Caribbean vacation.