Pros and cons on opioids

Understand the arguments of your side and the other side. Write out your answers to both Pros and Cons. What are the key issues? How many people are affected? What are the policy considerations? Come into class ready to present your side’s view. Here are a few examples you might consider as starting points:

Pro: 1. Why are Opioids and other pain relievers needed? 2. What precautions has the industry taken to protect the safety of consumers? 3. What is the industry doing now to stop excessive use of Opioids? 5. What role did federal agencies play in providing oversight? 4. Do others share the blame? Why?

Con: 1. the industry knowingly released drugs that were addictive; 2) industry attempted to influence regulators; 3) victims and their families have suffered and died; 4) the pharmaceutical companies conspired to hide evidence of the dangers to the public, the medical community, and those suffering severe pain and need to pay.

Policy Considerations: What can be done? by Health Care Providers? by Local Government? By state and federal government? by the courts?