State pushes drug that saves money, costs lives

Giving more than one pain killer or combining it with an anti-depressant is a recipe for potential death. All of these pain killers are addictive and the greatest crime is that doctors keep prescribing more and more drugs without even checking to see what the patient already takes. Methadone is also addictive, although apparently considered a better option than being a heroin or crystal meth addict. Putting any of these medications into the hands of seniors to take when they feel the need, especially when they have reached addiction levels, is insane. One would think, since they tell you in the hospital that you can only be on morphine for a day or two because of its addictive nature, that they would take a good hard look at oxycontin as well as methadone and other pain killers but it seems that old people are herded like cattle through the doctor's office. When they can't find a reason for the pain with a cursory search, they had out a pill and tell them it's due to "old age." Last I heard, that was not, in itself, a disease.