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QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 10:40 PM ET  10.13 by *JD*

Also...while I am at it... I have a friend who had a pacreas transplant a few years back and she has been in and out of the hospital ever since. She is on more medications than Micheal Jackson (if thats possible) She smokes weed to help her eat and deal with the trauma of being chronically ill and unable to live a normal life. I really don't blame her. Recently our wonderful state started drug testing folks for all government benefits including reduced or free health care from privately owned hospitals. As a citizen of this country I have always felt that benefits were being abused and should be monitored more closely for fraud, but now I see what the real impact is on people who will slip through the proverbial cracks. My friend (allegedly) tested positive for the Maryjane, and she was warned, as she should have been, but she continued smoking, mainly because they had taken away alot of her meds because they were destroying her kidneys (prescribed meds) So now years of opiates and mood drugs as well as anti rejection meds are being taken away and because of the maryjane(the only med that works left) she is most likely to lose all her disability and medicaid, essentially killing her, or at the very least destroying what little life she has right now. Is this happening in anyones elses state and how do you feel about people getting all their government assistance taken away because of addiction to drugs(illness)

JD (and anyone else reading who has friends with issues like this),

Drug companies have programs to assist with medications. If you go directly to the manufacturers, divulge your income and you qualify, a lot of times you can get meds at a steep discount or even for free. I would have your friend contact the mfgs and find out what's available. The fact is, the drug companies get write offs for charity cases and they LOVE that. And charity cases can even apply to those that are working with lesser incomes.

Your friends situation is sad and I wish the best of luck to her.

And, gotta sign off. We can talk more about this if you like JD.

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 08:42 AM ET  10.14 by Catwoman

What about pharmaceutical companies no longer manufacturing drugs that actually help keep people alive because there's not enough profit to be made? That should be illegal!

Many of these companies are not American owned.

QUOTE(#18):

Originally posted 09:30 AM ET  10.14 by JackStraw~

You should dislike some of them. Some of them are malevolent.

My brother works for Aon Insurance and he's not malevolent.