Under pressure, physicians began to insist that their patients taper opioids. But alternatives were few and far between. The single most effective class of non-opioid painkiller, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory known as a “COX-2 inhibitor,” had its reputation blackened in the mid-2000s, just as opioid manufacturers fought to obtain the lion’s share of the market.
Read MoreThe states of Washington and Colorado have legalized marijuana. Twenty-three states (in addition to the District of Columbia) have allowed the drug’s use for medical purposes. But the Food and Drug Administration still classifies marijuana as a “Schedule 1” drug...
Read MoreCathryn wrote a great piece for the NewYorker.com last December about the controversial new painkiller Zohydro, which was approved by the FDA despite the agency’s own advisory panel’s recommendation against it.
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