Tyler Sash's mother blames football for his death

[Franisdaman]

Tyler Sash's mother blames football for his death
Mark Emmert, memmert@gannett.com8:48 p.m. CDT May 15, 2016


It was Tyler Sash’s decision to play football instead of basketball that contributed to his death, his mother said in a report on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” that aired Sunday.

“I love football. I’m not trying to ruin football for anyone,” Barney Sash said in an emotional interview on the program. “My son went the football route. He could have played basketball. It wouldn’t have cost him his life.”

Sash, an Oskaloosa native, was discovered dead in his home by his mother in September. The cause was an accidental overdose of the pain-killers methadone and hydrocodone. But the former safety for the Iowa Hawkeyes and New York Giants also had had five documented concussions and his brain revealed signs of CTE when examined by experts at Boston University.

His former girlfriend, Heather Dickinson, who first met him when they were second-graders, told “Outside the Lines” that Sash often displayed the erratic and confused symptoms associated with that condition once he moved back to Oskaloosa after being cut by the Giants in August 2013.

“Sometimes he was sad and he couldn’t tell me why. Sometimes he was angry. He would lose his cell phone, his wallet, his keys,” Dickinson said.

“He was always researching concussions, and I think that’s ‘cause he was scared.”

Sash, who was all-state in both football and basketball at Oskaloosa High School, began taking pain medications after having two surgeries on his shoulders.

“He always used to tell me he was going to die young because he said he had the body of an 80-year-old,” Dickinson said.

Sash was 27 years old when he died.

Mobile users can tap here to watch the clip.


http://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sp...or-his-death-espn-outside-the-lines/84411144/

 

[TonyTheTiger.1865]

She is probably right!

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

It would be hard to argue against it, it would seem. Considering it appears there were no signs of depression/anxiety prior to his concussions, and the CTE evidence. I totally understand why kids want to play, but I'm thankful my son decided against it.

 

[JRHawk2003]

I am as guilty as the next guy of loving big hits in football. Bob Sanders comes to mind, but its does destroy these guys. I remember that guy we had on special teams a few years back, I believe Jayme Murphy who had some massive hits on kickoffs. I remember he knocked the Wisconsin KR out cold. I believe he ended up quitting because of concussions.

I dont think it will end football, but I could see a three strikes and you are done sort of thing. Also, I do think it will affect the game long term as less parents will let their kids go into it in youth leagues. You will have a smaller pool of players.

 

[SPGroth]

I found it interesting that when the checked his brain for the presence of CTE, that they determined that he has much damage as Junior Seau, but Seau's was after 20 years in the NFL......to Sash's 3 years.

 

[IowaNiceHawk]

She is probably right!

I met Tyler Sash in 2010, just before the Bowl game & I think that was his last game as an
Iowa Hawkeye. Great guy, engaging, friendly and down to earth.

God Bless the Sash family.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

The problem is that in the past is that information was not disclosed by NFL and the powers that be, even though there was evidence that linked this. Today the information is out in the open and many still choose to play and many past NFL players who suffer from this said they would do it all again even with this knowledge. I understand kids going in a different route today, but there is something about football that goes beyond just the game. I know I for one would be willing to do this for the amount of money they make...but to each their own.
I always wondered if helmets are more of a detriment than a solution, why not develop a helmet with more of a soft outer shell as opposed to the hard outer shell that appears to be one of the major causes of this constant trauma on the brain/head.

 

[JRHawk2003]

The problem is that in the past is that information was not disclosed by NFL and the powers that be, even though there was evidence that linked this. Today the information is out in the open and many still choose to play and many past NFL players who suffer from this said they would do it all again even with this knowledge. I understand kids going in a different route today, but there is something about football that goes beyond just the game. I know I for one would be willing to do this for the amount of money they make...but to each their own.
I always wondered if helmets are more of a detriment than a solution, why not develop a helmet with more of a soft outer shell as opposed to the hard outer shell that appears to be one of the major causes of this constant trauma on the brain/head.

There is something to that for sure. If you look at the leather helmet days, or even at Rugby today its more of a tackling game than a collision game that the NFL is today.

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

There is something to that for sure. If you look at the leather helmet days, or even at Rugby today its more of a tackling game than a collision game that the NFL is today.

This is a great way to describe the issue. Seriously, look at how many times during a game you think to yourself "wrap up!" when someone breaks a tackle against your favorite team. The "get low, wrap up, drive through" techniques of before are either forgotten or ignored and replaced with "if I run into him hard enough, he'll go down and it'll look cool". I think there is merit to the idea of changing the helmet that gets rid of the mindset that guys have to "blow up" the ball carrier. But in this day and age, good luck to the person who tries to explain the "we're going to make it easier for heads to get dinged" despite the logic behind it.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

I didn't know he had 5 documented concussions. I mean I seriously thought after 3 you were almost considered brain dead? I remember growing up and a buddy of mines uncle was some big doctor and told his parents after his 2nd concussion to hang it up. My buddy was so mad, but his parents did not feel comfortable with him playing anymore. So he became the teams water boy and scout team QB (Basically still participated, w/out pads).

I thought after a certain # you were not allowed to play contact sports, but I am guessing that must only be a HS rule?

 

[SPGroth]

High school guidelines is that if you have three, you are mostly likely out of contact sports. For me, between the ages of 10 - 18, I sustained 6 concussions. Two were from playing sports (1- football and 1- wrestling). Others were on the playground, riding horses.....or being a kid. Thus far, haven't had any issues, but it is scary to think that if the current rules were in place, I would have been done with school based sports by 7th grade.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

I didn't know he had 5 documented concussions. I mean I seriously thought after 3 you were almost considered brain dead? I remember growing up and a buddy of mines uncle was some big doctor and told his parents after his 2nd conicussion to hang it up. My buddy was so mad, but his parents did not feel comfortable with him playing anymore. So he became the teams water boy and scout team QB (Basically still participated, w/out pads).

I thought after a certain # you were not allowed to play contact sports, but I am guessing that must only be a HS rule?

It depends on a lot of factors, I had at least 5 myself (only 3 documented) and I am relatively fine (some minor headaches) and some chemical issues like depression and such. I would not complain about symptoms so that I could play and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Some of my fondest memories are from playing HS football, I understand and would not encourage any of my players to do this. However, if you want to play you almost have to hide some symptoms to do that (especially today)

 

[Urohawk]

One also cannot understate the importance of prescription drugs. The following comments are not an indictment of Sash or his family. They have suffered a horrible tragedy. It is more a comment on society. There is a prescription drug epidemic in this country. Somewhere about 15 years ago we came up with the idea that everyone should be pain free. Patient demand drugs for things they shouldn't and doctors give it to them. Both are culpable along with the pharmaceutical industry. People like Sash are more common than you think. I think Prince will help bring this to light. One can't put it all on CTE, it is one piece of a multi factorial problem.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

One also cannot understate the importance of prescription drugs. The following comments are not an indictment of Sash or his family. They have suffered a horrible tragedy. It is more a comment on society. There is a prescription drug epidemic in this country. Somewhere about 15 years ago we came up with the idea that everyone should be pain free. Patient demand drugs for things they shouldn't and doctors give it to them. Both are culpable along with the pharmaceutical industry. People like Sash are more common than you think. I think Prince will help bring this to light. One can't put it all on CTE, it is one piece of a multi factorial problem.

Absolutely, prescription drug abuse is the most common of all drug abuse. It is pretty ridiculous how easy it is to get pain medication. I think you bring up a good point with the corruption in our health care and pharmaceutical industry in this country

 

[MepoDawg#]

I believe there's more to it than just the concussions. There has to be with the number of players who have played the game and led long successful lives afterwards. Maybe some are prone to it for some reason. Maybe a combination with drugs or supplements, maybe something else. Wish we knew more so I could feel comfortable knowing about myself and if my kids should play or not.

But there is something to the way they tackle these days. Too many just launching themselves head first into someone. A big hit by a good form tackle looks way better to me than someone leading with their head anyways.

 

[Chewback]

One also cannot understate the importance of prescription drugs. The following comments are not an indictment of Sash or his family. They have suffered a horrible tragedy. It is more a comment on society. There is a prescription drug epidemic in this country. Somewhere about 15 years ago we came up with the idea that everyone should be pain free. Patient demand drugs for things they shouldn't and doctors give it to them. Both are culpable along with the pharmaceutical industry. People like Sash are more common than you think. I think Prince will help bring this to light. One can't put it all on CTE, it is one piece of a multi factorial problem.

Absolutely, prescription drug abuse is the most common of all drug abuse. It is pretty ridiculous how easy it is to get pain medication. I think you bring up a good point with the corruption in our health care and pharmaceutical industry in this country

I understand the emotion but fear that we will swing too far in the other direction. Around 40 years ago there was a tendency to give sub-therapeutic doses of narcotics or no narcs at all to terminal cancer patients for fear that they might become addicted before they died.

I've taken hydrocodone 4 times in the last 15 years or so and really needed it at those times. Each time it was for a short time, at most a week, and I did NOT become addicted. Of course I didn't go back and beg for more after the pain ended so I don't actually know if I could have gotten more.

 

[IamHawkeye]

One also cannot understate the importance of prescription drugs. The following comments are not an indictment of Sash or his family. They have suffered a horrible tragedy. It is more a comment on society. There is a prescription drug epidemic in this country. Somewhere about 15 years ago we came up with the idea that everyone should be pain free. Patient demand drugs for things they shouldn't and doctors give it to them. Both are culpable along with the pharmaceutical industry. People like Sash are more common than you think. I think Prince will help bring this to light. One can't put it all on CTE, it is one piece of a multi factorial problem.

If you think about it, it was the pain from his shoulder injuries that caused him to take the drugs and were more to blame than the CTE for his death. Of course, we have an idea that horrible things were in store with the CTE. At any rate, football caused the shoulder pain.

 

[soybean]

I am as guilty as the next guy of loving big hits in football. Bob Sanders comes to mind, but its does destroy these guys. I remember that guy we had on special teams a few years back, I believe Jayme Murphy who had some massive hits on kickoffs. I remember he knocked the Wisconsin KR out cold. I believe he ended up quitting because of concussions.

I dont think it will end football, but I could see a three strikes and you are done sort of thing. Also, I do think it will affect the game long term as less parents will let their kids go into it in youth leagues. You will have a smaller pool of players.

And he was celebrated as the "Irish Car Bomb" if I recall correctly. TV and the NFL bad it seem old fashioned just to tackle a guy, you had to demolish him in order for your play to be appreciated by the viewing public...football at all levels to trying hard to erase that kind of thinking but its a slow hard sell for a generation brought up on red meat.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

I understand the emotion but fear that we will swing too far in the other direction. Around 40 years ago there was a tendency to give sub-therapeutic doses of narcotics or no narcs at all to terminal cancer patients for fear that they might become addicted before they died.

I've taken hydrocodone 4 times in the last 15 years or so and really needed it at those times. Each time it was for a short time, at most a week, and I did NOT become addicted. Of course I didn't go back and beg for more after the pain ended so I don't actually know if I could have gotten more.

this is not fear, this is fact. Look up the prescription #'s in America. Just because you as individual have only taken it 4 times doesn't mean it is not a problem. I have about 75 oxy and hydro's sitting in my house that I didn't use from various things. I also had a problem after college athletics using them too often, thankfully I found other ways to cope. But I consider myself a lucky one, a few of my teammates were not so lucky.
Here is a statistic I found:
"In 2010, enough prescription painkillers were prescribed to medicate every american adult every 4 hours for 1 month"......that my friend is a problem

 

[mazda1]

My wife refused to sign to let my youngest play football. Still, he was an emergency room regular trying to keep up with his older brother and his friends and was a neighborhood fb star. Now 35 he's still po'ed about it, but he can think in spite of a couple baseball bats to the head and a losing bout with the corner of the fireplace. He took karate for 4 years and his knees are as bad as mine in spite of not playing an orgsnized down.

My point is boys will be boys and there are no certainties in life. My grandson plays traveling hockey and being the youngest and the smallest means he's had his share of bumps too.

Our kids are way more important than any game and I can't argue with anyone who chooses to protect theirs. I just don't know if there's anyway to ensure their safety completely.

 

[SansSouci]

There is no shoulder pain, unless it's post surgery, that would require narcotics. It's nice to have them, but not necessary. He was using them to get high.

My coworker played AAU basketball with him, he said he Sash had Kingsbury like range.

 

[Franisdaman]

One also cannot understate the importance of prescription drugs. The following comments are not an indictment of Sash or his family. They have suffered a horrible tragedy. It is more a comment on society. There is a prescription drug epidemic in this country. Somewhere about 15 years ago we came up with the idea that everyone should be pain free. Patient demand drugs for things they shouldn't and doctors give it to them. Both are culpable along with the pharmaceutical industry. People like Sash are more common than you think. I think Prince will help bring this to light. One can't put it all on CTE, it is one piece of a multi factorial problem.

If someone goes to several doctors and gets prescription pain meds from each, i don't think there's any way to track this, is there? I think this is what happens when a person gets hooked on a pain med; they just keep getting the prescription filled several times at once.

 

[Franisdaman]

There is no shoulder pain, unless it's post surgery, that would require narcotics. It's nice to have them, but not necessary. He was using them to get high.

My coworker played AAU basketball with him, he said he Sash had Kingsbury like range.

You are being reckless in stating that Tyler was using these prescribed drugs to get high. You don't know that; you are slandering a deceased individual, painting Tyler as a drug addict, when you know nothing for certain. Maybe he was in a lot of pain? I don't know. You don't know. You are assuming, which makes an @$$ out of you..

 

[MWardT]

How many players has CTE been a contributing factor in the deaths of players who are still playing? What intrigues me is you never hear about a current player being killed because of complications caused by CTE. Why is that? It seems like the players CTE has an effect on is the ones who are no longer playing, whether that's a 27 year old Sash or a 45 year old Seau. So, is it really all CTE, or is it other contributing factors such as adjusting to life outside of football that play a role as well? Not saying football doesn't play a factor, but those that blame football entirely for someone's death go a little too far for me.

 

[Mountain Man Hawk]

In many of the interviews given after his death, his family have all said that his shoulders were a complete mess after football. To the point that they would dislocate randomly - for instance when taking off his shirt. Evidently he couldn't sleep on either shoulder and sometimes would go two days without sleeping because of shoulder pain. A quick Google search turns up multiple links backing this up. So it sounds to me like his shoulders were a legitimate problem and not just an excuse to get high. As his NFL teammate said, to be a white safety in the NFL you have to be a little bit crazy. And in this case also willing to sacrifice your shoulders/head/long-term health.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

How many players has CTE been a contributing factor in the deaths of players who are still playing? What intrigues me is you never hear about a current player being killed because of complications caused by CTE. Why is that? It seems like the players CTE has an effect on is the ones who are no longer playing, whether that's a 27 year old Sash or a 45 year old Seau. So, is it really all CTE, or is it other contributing factors such as adjusting to life outside of football that play a role as well? Not saying football doesn't play a factor, but those that blame football entirely for someone's death go a little too far for me.

I think in most cases it (the brain) deteriorates over time...much like Alzheimer's or dementia...or at least that is my understanding. However, I see what you are saying. I would assume that life after football does play a major factor and would assume it is a combination of several factors (these two included) I would also assume that playing the game, being a professional "famous" athlete, the crowd/ fans, etc create a natural high that surpresses depression and other symptoms. Heck, even without CTE many former professional athletes, from even non contact sports" have trouble dealing with life after. Add in possible brain trauma and addiction to oppiates (pain meds) and it's just not a good situation

 

[24 so far]

In many of the interviews given after his death, his family have all said that his shoulders were a complete mess after football. To the point that they would dislocate randomly - for instance when taking off his shirt. Evidently he couldn't sleep on either shoulder and sometimes would go two days without sleeping because of shoulder pain. A quick Google search turns up multiple links backing this up. So it sounds to me like his shoulders were a legitimate problem and not just an excuse to get high. As his NFL teammate said, to be a white safety in the NFL you have to be a little bit crazy. And in this case also willing to sacrifice your shoulders/head/long-term health.

I have 2 friends of mine who have been putting up with a dislocated shoulder for over 40 years. Both alive and well. They would roll over in their sleep and their shoulder would "pop out". They learned how to put it back in on their own, but if someone else was around they wanted the help. One of them would have his shoulder dislocate at least every other football game we played. He'd run off to the side with his shoulder down and everyone knew what was up. They'd help him pop it back in and back on the field he went. Play the rest of the game and be fine (tailback). Still alive and kicking just fine today and I never heard of or saw either take any medication of any kind. Put it back in and the pain was gone and/or plenty tolerable. They dealt with it and moved on.

People are always looking for something or someone to blame. The fact of the matter is, stuff happens, and it happens often. Bad things happen to good people everyday, in every walk of life, athlete or nerd. If you've played sports of any kind over any period of time, you've experienced concussions. I've had plenty of them I'm sure. I take Advil for hangovers, and a baby chewable orange aspirin for heart health (old people just in case stuff.....). I might croak tomorrow but it's not going to be because I enjoyed being an athlete every day as a younger man, and whatever comes with that (far more good than bad as far as I'm concerned).

One thing I've noticed about "retired" and "old" athletes is, they seem to have many of the same maladies as people who are just like them, as in old.

And lastly, the Medical Field is constantly flip-flopping on various subjects and always have. One "expert" says one thing and another "expert" says the exact opposite. Rinse and repeat, and do that over a couple of decades or more. All depends on whose Ox is being gored. Do what you enjoy doing and let others do the same and let the chips fall where they may.

If you're the Nervous Nellie type you'll always find some excuse, so just stay home in your bubble wrapped nuclear fallout shelter with your kids and let everyone else determine their own fate.

 

[Hawks_Rock_12]

You are being reckless in stating that Tyler was using these prescribed drugs to get high. You don't know that; you are slandering a deceased individual, painting Tyler as a drug addict, when you know nothing for certain. Maybe he was in a lot of pain? I don't know. You don't know. You are assuming, which makes an @$$ out of you..

Take some time and read the article "accidental overdose of the pain-killers, methadone and hydrocodone"....Methadone reduces withdrawal symptoms in people addicted to heroin or other narcotic drugs without causing the "high" associated with the drug addiction. If he was taking Methadone he had a problem.

 

[mickv]

Saw Sash play basketball many times and he was one of the best high school players I've ever seen. Unstoppable at times.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

Saw Sash play basketball many times and he was one of the best high school players I've ever seen. Unstoppable at times.

I am pretty sure that is how he got on KF's radar, by playing basketball

 

[championhawk]

How many players has CTE been a contributing factor in the deaths of players who are still playing? What intrigues me is you never hear about a current player being killed because of complications caused by CTE. Why is that? It seems like the players CTE has an effect on is the ones who are no longer playing, whether that's a 27 year old Sash or a 45 year old Seau. So, is it really all CTE, or is it other contributing factors such as adjusting to life outside of football that play a role as well? Not saying football doesn't play a factor, but those that blame football entirely for someone's death go a little too far for me.

Yep they go from being the big dog with loads of cash and people kissing their butts to bankrupt average Joe's in a short period of time. That probably has more to do with the problems than concussions.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Yep they go from being the big dog with loads of cash and people kissing their butts to bankrupt average Joe's in a short period of time. That probably has more to do with the problems than concussions.

I know a few people who were big time CEO's of companies and then got fired or laid off. Pretty sure they made tons of money and were getting everything they wanted and they are still alive? There are people who go bankrupt all the time and are still alive. How is that possible?

I am not trying to argue, I am just stating something. I think in this particular case it was a mixture of 5 concussions and also a lot of prescription pills. I know those things can mess you up and get you acting goofy. Imagine if you mix them and even add in other things it can get pretty messy.

Its sad that Tyler couldn't of gotten help. He was a cool guy who was always good w/kids and probably could of made a good coach after his playing days were over.

 

[championhawk]

I know a few people who were big time CEO's of companies and then got fired or laid off. Pretty sure they made tons of money and were getting everything they wanted and they are still alive? There are people who go bankrupt all the time and are still alive. How is that possible?

I am not trying to argue, I am just stating something. I think in this particular case it was a mixture of 5 concussions and also a lot of prescription pills. I know those things can mess you up and get you acting goofy. Imagine if you mix them and even add in other things it can get pretty messy.

Its sad that Tyler couldn't of gotten help. He was a cool guy who was always good w/kids and probably could of made a good coach after his playing days were over.

There are also CEO's that get fired and kill themselves. Same with people who have gone bankrupt. How is that possible? Hint: Most people with an ounce of sense no the answer

 

[BlackNGoldWings]

I know a few people who were big time CEO's of companies and then got fired or laid off. Pretty sure they made tons of money and were getting everything they wanted and they are still alive? There are people who go bankrupt all the time and are still alive. How is that possible?

I am not trying to argue, I am just stating something. I think in this particular case it was a mixture of 5 concussions and also a lot of prescription pills. I know those things can mess you up and get you acting goofy. Imagine if you mix them and even add in other things it can get pretty messy.

Its sad that Tyler couldn't of gotten help. He was a cool guy who was always good w/kids and probably could of made a good coach after his playing days were over.

Tyler could have gotten help? For a rotting brain? What help is there for that?

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Tyler could have gotten help? For a rotting brain? What help is there for that?

I was stating more for the prescription pills he was taking. They said it was an accidental overdose that killed him. People can get help for those and sometimes prescribed lesser pain meds. or even have them go to the hospital and get their pain meds given to them. I had an uncle who got addicted to pain meds. His wife took them all away and called doctor and they ended up coming up with a plan where she would drive him to the local hospital and they would give him his medication 1 time a day. HE did this for like 4-5 weeks, but at least he is still living and didn't OD.

Like I said I am stating more in the non-brain issues. I realize he had 5 concussions which personally he should of been told no more contact after 3. He should of been held out of sports, but he was a competitor who wanted to play. I get that part, but there should be mandatory help for these people.

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

There are also CEO's that get fired and kill themselves. Same with people who have gone bankrupt. How is that possible? Hint: Most people with an ounce of sense no the answer

Dude, really? Your last two posts, are....really?

 

[thewop]

Tyler Sash's mother blames football for his death
Mark Emmert, memmert@gannett.com8:48 p.m. CDT May 15, 2016


It was Tyler Sash’s decision to play football instead of basketball that contributed to his death, his mother said in a report on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” that aired Sunday.

“I love football. I’m not trying to ruin football for anyone,” Barney Sash said in an emotional interview on the program. “My son went the football route. He could have played basketball. It wouldn’t have cost him his life.”

Sash, an Oskaloosa native, was discovered dead in his home by his mother in September. The cause was an accidental overdose of the pain-killers methadone and hydrocodone. But the former safety for the Iowa Hawkeyes and New York Giants also had had five documented concussions and his brain revealed signs of CTE when examined by experts at Boston University.

His former girlfriend, Heather Dickinson, who first met him when they were second-graders, told “Outside the Lines” that Sash often displayed the erratic and confused symptoms associated with that condition once he moved back to Oskaloosa after being cut by the Giants in August 2013.

“Sometimes he was sad and he couldn’t tell me why. Sometimes he was angry. He would lose his cell phone, his wallet, his keys,” Dickinson said.

“He was always researching concussions, and I think that’s ‘cause he was scared.”

Sash, who was all-state in both football and basketball at Oskaloosa High School, began taking pain medications after having two surgeries on his shoulders.

“He always used to tell me he was going to die young because he said he had the body of an 80-year-old,” Dickinson said.

Sash was 27 years old when he died.

Mobile users can tap here to watch the clip.


http://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sp...or-his-death-espn-outside-the-lines/84411144/

Regardless of our own opinions, she is free to believe whatever she likes, a mother should not have to bury her kid, ever.

 

[122950]

I have a couple of questions and a couple of thoughts.
CTE has been identified as result of concussions just within the past 5-10 years. Is/was there as high an incidence rate of CTE (or associated CTE symtoms, since CTE wasn't formallly diagnosed) in collegiate and NFL players from the 1930's thru the 1960's? The old timers had concussions, but did concussions occur as frequently as today?
Would the elimination of facemasks reduce concussions? To the point made in a previous post - form tackling was the norm 40 years ago - rather than the attempt to blow up the runner? No face mask meant you attempted to get your head out of the way. Dentists would love it - but would concussions be reduced?
Along these lines - simple physics also have to be at play here. Todays players are so much bigger and faster - and thus the forces involved in the collisons today are that much greater than the collisons of the 60's.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Regardless of our own opinions, she is free to believe whatever she likes, a mother should not have to bury her kid, ever.

Yup I agree

 

[shotdoc08]

Prescription pain pill abuse in this country is way beyond an epidemic. I've been bashed by people my whole career for not giving in to the tide of unbridled pain pill prescription writing. Every time I work I have to face someone who is abusing the medicine and comes lying to me, wanting more. It's a losing battle for me, and I've pretty much given up.

I've lost jobs because these same people know who to complain to, and hospital admins don't care if their customers are treated medically as they should be, they only care that their customers are happy/satisfied. Our gov has exacerbated this problem by linking insurance payments to how "satisfied the patient is with the service they received." Believe it.

Pain is real, but the absolute truth is, pain that requires narcotic/opioid pain relief is brief, usually lasting under a week. But studies have shown that many people only require several days worth to become addicted.

Everyone is to blame. Doctors, patients, hospital administrators, and insurance companies. 30,000 americans will die this year from pain pill overdose. 30,000 !!!! Few do it on purpose. Pain pills kill people. Period. Pain pill abuse in this country is rampant. But that horse has left the barn and is way over the hill and out of sight. There's no way to stop it now. People want what they want and they just don't give a damn.