How Johnson & Johnson companies used a ‘super poppy’ to make narcotics for America’s most abused opi

How Johnson & Johnson companies used a ‘super poppy’ to make narcotics for America’s most abused opi

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LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA — As the United States was succumbing to an epidemic of addiction, the Johnson & Johnson family of companies became the leading maker of narcotics for popular opioid pills, a dominance achieved through decades of innovation, navigation of U.S. drug policy, and the cultivation of poppies in this remote haven on the other side of the world.

Johnson & Johnson’s supply chain began in Tasmania, an island 150 miles south of mainland Australia, where scientists in the mid-1990s altered the genetics of thousands of plants to engineer a “super poppy” that was particularly rich in opiates.

The poppies were then exported to the United States where another Johnson & Johnson subsidiary refined them into oxycodone and hydrocodone, and the narcotics were shipped as white crystalline powders to the nation’s pillmakers.
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The unique ring structure in opium is most economically made from the poppy plant. J&J used plant genetics to produce a 'super poppy' that was then grown in a remote country.

Re: How Johnson & Johnson companies used a ‘super poppy’ to make narcotics for America’s most abused

I find it interesting that people advocate for legalizing drugs rant against opioids attacking drug companies. If opioids were instead made by the same people with meth labs, then it would just be a matter of personal choice.

Re: How Johnson & Johnson companies used a ‘super poppy’ to make narcotics for America’s most abused

A "super poppy" just means it requires less refining. The drug itself will be the same.

Re: How Johnson & Johnson companies used a ‘super poppy’ to make narcotics for America’s most abused

joko104 said:

I find it interesting that people advocate for legalizing drugs rant against opioids attacking drug companies. If opioids were instead made by the same people with meth labs, then it would just be a matter of personal choice.

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The reason drug companies producing opioids are attacked is because the record is very clear that those companies misled the medical profession and the public with many claims that the opioids were not addicting, and that was a bloody lie.

Re: How Johnson & Johnson companies used a ‘super poppy’ to make narcotics for America’s most abused

Thoreau72 said:

The reason drug companies producing opioids are attacked is because the record is very clear that those companies misled the medical profession and the public with many claims that the opioids were not addicting, and that was a bloody lie.

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A few years ago I broke a thigh bone & was in rehab for 3.5 weeks learning how to walk again - with a walker. The nurses handed out Percocet pills ('pain pills') every 6 hours like they were candy. And when you checked out, they gave you a bag with all the drugs they had obtained for you - including a dozen or so Percocets. Percocet is Acetaminophen / Oxycodone. The latter is a highly addictive opioid. I used the balance to get to sleep & developed no craving or addiction. I think I lot of this is genetic. And I think a lot of it is bull cr**.

Re: How Johnson & Johnson companies used a ‘super poppy’ to make narcotics for America’s most abused

JacksinPA said:

A few years ago I broke a thigh bone & was in rehab for 3.5 weeks learning how to walk again - with a walker. The nurses handed out Percocet pills ('pain pills') every 6 hours like they were candy. And when you checked out, they gave you a bag with all the drugs they had obtained for you - including a dozen or so Percocets. Percocet is Acetaminophen / Oxycodone. The latter is a highly addictive opioid. I used the balance to get to sleep & developed no craving or addiction. I think I lot of this is genetic. And I think a lot of it is bull cr**.

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My personal experiences with opioids has been limited. Post-surgical for arthroscopic surgery, knees and shoulders.

I did not care for the drugs. Yes, they certainly worked, but they would not let me sleep. I know several men my age who, when available, use them recreationally, usually with alcohol. They are not addicts, but if they find a few here and there they enjoy them.

I don't like them.

Re: How Johnson & Johnson companies used a ‘super poppy’ to make narcotics for America’s most abused

Thoreau72 said:

My personal experiences with opioids has been limited. Post-surgical for arthroscopic surgery, knees and shoulders.

I did not care for the drugs. Yes, they certainly worked, but they would not let me sleep. I know several men my age who, when available, use them recreationally, usually with alcohol. They are not addicts, but if they find a few here and there they enjoy them.

I don't like them.

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The only negative I found was the constipating effect. The nurse's station in rehab had a bottle of Miralax handy & they occasionally would ask if you had had a BM that day.

Re: How Johnson & Johnson companies used a ‘super poppy’ to make narcotics for America’s most abused

JacksinPA said:

The only negative I found was the constipating effect. The nurse's station in rehab had a bottle of Miralax handy & they occasionally would ask if you had had a BM that day.

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Straight old-fashioned opiates have a constipating effect. I suppose it's logical that the opioids would too.