Follow Dr. Webster on Substack
Going forward, all my new articles will appear on Substack. This will give us a cleaner, more reliable way to stay connected with thoughtful, evidence-based commentary on pain, addiction, health policy, and the science that matters most to patients, and people interested in the health-related topics I write about.
I am taking a pause in writing blogs, columns, and editorials. I sincerely want to thank everyone who has followed me. I hope you all will continue to seek factual information. Please know that my commitment to the pain and addiction community is as strong as ever.
The belief that Big Pharma is inherently bad makes it difficult to appreciate the good things (such as vaccines and cures for diseases) that come from Pharma and separate them from the bad things (such as the negative consequences of some drugs and apparent greed).
A recent Netflix documentary, “The Social Dilemma,” illustrates how social media networks are selling each of us as commodities to advertisers. Tristan Harris, a former Google employee, points out that platforms such as Reddit, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram make money by allowing advertisers to target only those who are interested in their messages or products
The new recommendation offered by the AMA holds to a long-held belief by many physicians with expertise in pain and addiction medicine that patients with a current, or a history of an, opioid use disorder should receive effective pain care, including opioid therapy, when clinically indicated and in consideration of known risks and benefits.
However, reversing the ACA at any time would be devastating for millions of Americans who have an SUD or pain. Both SUDs and pain would be considered pre-existing conditions.
The coronavirus has left many people feeling helpless—yet you can help. You may not be a medical researcher, but you can still be part of developing a vaccine. There are three COVID-19 late-phase trials underway in the United States, and they will involve more than 100,000 individuals.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) provides a hotline for anyone who is having a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts. Free, confidential help for a loved one, or for you, is only a phone call—or online chat—away.
The 2020 football season has begun. There have been changes, including daily testing and limiting who can enter the teams’ facilities. Many referees will wear masks, and locker rooms have been restructured to discourage the spread of the virus. So the game will continue.
Upcoming election results will likely determine whether the MORE Act has a chance to become law in the near future. It behooves every voter to become familiar with the candidates’ positions regarding cannabis. Criminalizing marijuana has caused great harm. We, as voters, have the power to change that.
What are we to believe? I, for one, can no longer believe what the CDC says unless it is verified by non-partisan scientific bodies. This is a sad time. Our health is being played with as if it were a game. I feel like a commoner in Game of Thrones, as the kings fight for power and ignore their people.
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