The Pain Refugees

Writer and anthropologist Brian Goldstone presents a rebuttal of the idea that pain patients who take opioids will become addicts. He leads with the heartbreaking story of chronic pain patient Austin Sell, for whom prescription opioids used to be a lifeline. Goldstone then zooms out to show a whole community of sufferers who will likely never again have access to the medication they need to function. He backs up anecdotal evidence with studies and expert opinions from credible sources. His argument is as convincing as its implications are disturbing. getAbstract recommends this counternarrative to anyone who’s read about Big Pharma’s role in triggering the opioid crisis.