Topic: Vicodin

The FDA has approved Zohydro, a potent new painkiller that experts warn could be lethal in small doses. Adam Curry presents a theory of "reverse native advertising," suggesting that pharmaceutical companies might pay for news coverage highlighting a drug's danger to ensure it remains a controlled, high-value product on the market.

As they approach their 600th episode, the hosts begin discussing Zohydro, a powerful new painkiller approved by the FDA. They note the media coverage of the drug's potency and the public health concerns surrounding its release.

NPR reports on the controversy surrounding the FDA's approval of Zohydro, which is significantly more powerful than Vicodin. Public health advocates are urging the FDA to withdraw approval, citing the ongoing epidemic of opioid addiction and overdose deaths.

A discussion on the opiate crisis identifies Vicodin as a primary gateway drug prescribed by dentists. The hosts explore a historical precedent from 1926 where the US government intentionally poisoned industrial alcohol during Prohibition, leading to thousands of deaths. They also reference the 1970s spraying of Mexican marijuana fields with the toxic chemical Paraquat.

The conversation shifts to the influence of pharmaceutical shills in online medical forums and the changing language of healthcare. The term "provider" is analyzed as a way to replace doctors with less expensive nurse practitioners. An anecdote describes a doctor prescribing Valium and Vicodin as a routine part of a diagnostic procedure, illustrating the normalization of heavy medication.

A traveler describes a groggy interaction with customs officials while under the influence of Vicodin and Tamazepam. The officer utilized a new interrogation tactic by asking "What food did you bring?" rather than "Did you bring food?" The traveler inadvertently shared personal information about quitting smoking four months prior, attributing the talkativeness to the medication acting as a "truth serum."

An account of undergoing a "Zoom" dental whitening procedure involving hydrogen peroxide and high-intensity light. The process resulted in "zingers," or electrical shocks to the dental nerves, leading to a prescription for Vicodin to manage the pain and improve sleep.

Cindy McCain's past struggle with prescription drug addiction, specifically Vicodin and Percocet, is discussed. Reports indicate she obtained the drugs through her own medical foundation, which was intended to provide aid to poor nations. The hosts compare the scrutiny of the McCain family to the intense media focus on Sarah Palin's personal life.