The Milwaukee Post

September 19, 2014

Milwaukee Post

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By jESSICA MCBRIDE Special to The Post MILWAUKEE — Pharmacology professor June Dahl agrees to meet midway between the University of Wisconsin-Madison — where she's worked since 1957 — and Waukesha County, which is in the throes of a heroin and opioid pill crisis. We discuss her life's work changing how pain is treated. Then, it's time to cut to the chase: Is it fair to link her efforts (and those of a handful of other national pain researchers) to the heroin crisis? The analytical Dahl — who, at 84, is among the oldest active Wisconsin professors — reflects, then says candidly: "It appears that the promotion of better pain management has led to more liberaliza- tion of the prescribing of opioids, which has led to an increase in the availability of the drugs, which has led to some people abusing them, and then, when they can't get pills, to heroin as criminals promoted it." And there it is. Just a few researchers have done as much to promote pain management as Dahl and other UW researchers. But in a com- plicated irony, the pain researchers both caused pain and eliminated it. Dahl and other researchers talk about "bal- ance" — the point between regulation of legal opioids (like morphine, Vicodin, methadone, fentanyl and OxyContin) and medical access to them and where society should fall (no one argues heroin should be legal anymore, although it once was). That pendulum has shifted several times throughout the last 100 years as society tus- sled with the allure of the poppy, which opi- oids (both heroin and pills) derive from, pro- ducing a similar high. Since 2000, that balance has moved dramatically to access as prescrip- tion opioids were prescribed increasingly to a general pain population in Waukesha and elsewhere. And that matters because heroin use also exploded in the past decade, and research shows that most heroin users start with prescription opioids, usually taking them from people with legal prescriptions. DID YOU KNOW? Local news at your fingertips Visit www.gmtoday.com MARK BELLING Candidate unfit for Supreme Court Page 9 James Daley's handling of abuse case in Rock County confirms why he's not ready • Antarctica has only one ATM machine. • The average person can live for 11 days without water, assuming a mean temperature of 60 degrees. – Source: Cool Facts app BEER GARDENS POURING REVENUE INTO COUNTY — PAGE 3 STEVE 'THE HOMER' TRUE Rodgers should go back to targeting other receivers Page 11 Has thrown too many passes to Jordy Nelson Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MilwaukeePost Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MilwaukeePost UW researchers played role in upping opioid use MILWAUKEE COUNTY'S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 19, 2014 Parent: Experts must fight use of opioids for non-cancer pain See HEROIN on Page 6 Second in a series FREE STORAGE! FREE STORAGE! FREE STORAGE! 1st Month with 6 month contract DREXEL SELF STORAGE 500 W. Drexel • Oak Creek 414-617-2109 414-587-0517 239652084 240093077 Senior & Veteran Discounts $ 59 95 New Chamberlain LiftMaster 1 /2 HP Model #3265 On Sale! Quality top rated garage door opener includes two remotes, deluxe inside wall button, safety photo eyes, lifetime motor warranty, installation, haul away old opener & tax. *Limited time offer. LIMITED TIME OFFER! 16x7 Steel Raised Panel Door Includes installation, remove and haul away old door, reattach opener, tax. *Prices may vary due to Lead Abatement law. $ 695 * ClipNSave 414-418-3667 (DOOR) www.blandodoorcollc.com BROKEN GARAGE DOOR SPRING, CABLE OR OPENER? We'll Fix It Fast! Same Day Service - Lowest Price Extend the life of your door & opener with a TUNE UP, LUBE & SAFETY INSPECTION Parts extra if needed. – Special Package – INCLUDES INSTALLATION $ 299 * Regularly a $349 value! Must mention ad for special! BLANDO DOOR CO. LLC.

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