Thanks for those links. It’s troubling to hear about some of the promotional techniques described, though I can’t say it’s surprising.
While US regulations have been developed decades before their equivalents in many developing countries, it’s not necessarily a mark of quality. In the article I refer to less desirable idiosyncrasies of the US health system (i.e. aspects of the consumer-based model; pain as a fifth vital sign), which have exacerbated the crisis there and will not necessarily exist in some developing countries. Yet, while I hesitate to paint all developing countries with the same skeptical brush when it comes to developing adequate regulations, I agree with you more than I disagree. I say that a small amount of adverse outcomes are almost inevitable, and it’s really difficult to judge where the positives outweigh the negatives.
I still think expanding access should be part of the strategy. The approach promoted by WHO, UNODC, INCB, is to aim for a ‘balanced in policies on controlled substances’. The trouble is that countries are all too keen to control the downsides of using narcotic drugs at the expense of the upsides. So I think that what you’re suggesting may already be the approach being taken, but the emphasis needs to compensate for states’ existing imbalance.
And what you’re doing sounds interesting! Feel free to post links
Thanks for those links. It’s troubling to hear about some of the promotional techniques described, though I can’t say it’s surprising.
While US regulations have been developed decades before their equivalents in many developing countries, it’s not necessarily a mark of quality. In the article I refer to less desirable idiosyncrasies of the US health system (i.e. aspects of the consumer-based model; pain as a fifth vital sign), which have exacerbated the crisis there and will not necessarily exist in some developing countries. Yet, while I hesitate to paint all developing countries with the same skeptical brush when it comes to developing adequate regulations, I agree with you more than I disagree. I say that a small amount of adverse outcomes are almost inevitable, and it’s really difficult to judge where the positives outweigh the negatives.
I still think expanding access should be part of the strategy. The approach promoted by WHO, UNODC, INCB, is to aim for a ‘balanced in policies on controlled substances’. The trouble is that countries are all too keen to control the downsides of using narcotic drugs at the expense of the upsides. So I think that what you’re suggesting may already be the approach being taken, but the emphasis needs to compensate for states’ existing imbalance.
And what you’re doing sounds interesting! Feel free to post links