Live Your Life: Don't Numb It

I'm writing this post from the San Francisco Bay Area (specifically the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) which I just found out is not open 24/7 but rather closed until 4AM) where I've been the last few days, celebrating the life of one of my best friend's wife who passed away earlier this month.  It's a sad commentary that it took this event to bring together so many friends & family, many who I have not seen for several decades.

Coincidentally, I read an article published yesterday in USA Today regarding the addictiveness of the pain medications that I prescribe.  This issue along with the concomitant increase in overdose deaths has become a major issue in politics & healthcare.  In fact, the Centers for Disease Prevention & Control published data earlier this summer on this issue.

Don't get me wrong.  I don't want my patients to hurt needlessly.  But we need to balance our desire for pain control against the risk for addiction & death.  Too often, we look to pills to numb us from our lives.  Instead, we should strive to live life, not numb it.  Something that death reminded me this weekend.

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