David Berg cuts to the chase on "opioid addiction" in Insurance Thought Leadership, where he explains that "opioids" are really just heroin derivatives. Understanding that oxycodone, morphine and other commonly prescribed pain medications are a form of heroin casts the "opioid" epidemic in a whole new light, as heroin is more addictive and dangerous than almost any other drug.
Patients who understand this fact may think twice about taking heroin derivatives. At the very least, they may consider other pain management treatments like physical therapy and chiropractic care, and will understand the very real risks of addiction. Of course, opioid addiction and the resulting (and costly) drug testing are a huge profit center for some docs, complicating the matter further.
