A drug rehabilitation center on the outskirts of Beijing.
In a simple single room, a man was lying on an iron bed.
The man's hands and feet were tied up with sheets, tied in knots, and tied tightly to the iron bed, from which he could never break free.
His whole body arched up and he couldn't help but tremble. His saliva, tears, and snot crawled all over his face, soaking a large area of the sheets.
After a while, the man suddenly howled and struggled wildly with his hands and feet.
The body arched more and more, like a cooked prawn, and sweat could not stop coming out of the body.
"It hurts! It hurts so much!" The man couldn't bear it anymore and hit his head on the bed board, making a banging sound.
The muscles on the entire face were trembling, and the expression was extremely distorted. It reminded people of an evil spirit crawling out of a frying pan.
Du Cheng stood in front of the iron gate, staring at the scene inside with no expression on his face.
A staff member stood next to him and explained softly: "When we first come here, everyone will experience this kind of withdrawal reaction. Every part of the body will be painful. Not only is it painful, but it is also itchy, just like ants on the skin." The kind of itching and pain that crawls and then penetrates into the bones.”
"This process is called acute withdrawal, which is very painful. Most people can't stand it. They usually need to fight it off on their own."
Du Cheng asked: "What if you can't resist?"
The staff member was stunned for a moment, shook his head and said: "This method is a bit rough. Many people can't stand the pain during the attack and will self-harm or even commit suicide. However, we are paying attention to the observation. Anyway, no one will die."
"How long does that usually take?"
"Usually the first three days are the hardest. After 7 to 10 days, the symptoms will gradually disappear and the detoxification effect is achieved."
"What to do next?"
"After detoxification, we will provide methadone replacement therapy. They take a small amount orally every day under our supervision, and then gradually reduce the dose regularly, and slowly stop taking it in about 30 days. Methadone can significantly reduce the patient's withdrawal pain. , but it can become addictive if used for a long time.”
"Looking at it this way, the most unbearable part of the entire withdrawal process is the physical pain?"
"Yes, it is all physical pain at the beginning, itching, pain, trembling, sweating, insomnia, even collapse, and loss of consciousness. Once the body recovers, it will be psychological pain. But there is nothing we can do about it. , after all, he is not a psychiatrist.”
"Okay, let's start changing the treatment plan."
"OK."
The two asked and answered questions and quickly made a decision.
The staff pushed the door open, held down the man on the iron bed, stuffed a pill into his mouth, and watched him take it.
Du Cheng walked up to the man and waited and observed.
The patient soon became quiet and gasped for air.
Slowly, his body stopped shaking and his body relaxed, no longer arching so much.
Although they were still huddled together, the muscles throughout their bodies relaxed and were no longer tense.
The man closed his eyes tightly, sweat still rolled down his forehead, but his breathing became softer and no longer rapid.
After a while, he made a hoarse voice: "Water! Water!"
The staff poured a glass of water and handed it to him. He grabbed it, drank it in one gulp, and let out a long breath.
Then, he tilted his head and snored quickly and evenly. He was exhausted and fell asleep immediately.
The two walked out and looked at each room along the corridor.
The basics are pretty much the same, with a struggling addict in every room.
The staff gave a pill to every patient in the room.
Soon they regained their composure, sleeping and dazing, and the pain was no longer so unbearable.
Back in the office, Du Cheng picked up a stack of records and his expression became serious.
"To date, fifty patients with acute withdrawal have been given the new painkiller to relieve their pain, with good results."
"The subsequent replacement therapies have also been switched from methadone to this analgesic. After one month of clinical trials, the efficacy is remarkable, which fully proves that this new drug can help most patients survive the withdrawal reaction period."
"Another group of our trials is the use of painkillers in methadone outpatient clinics. Those people are long-term addicts. Their reactions are milder and the effects are also significant."
"Such clinical data is enough. In addition to physical aspects, there are also psychological aspects to addiction recovery. We can only achieve the former, allowing patients to relieve physical pain. The latter cannot be achieved by a mere painkiller. "
"I will submit this clinical trial report to the higher authorities. It will be very helpful for us to respond to the national addiction treatment action. I believe it will be gradually promoted in major drug rehabilitation centers in the future."
The staff nodded and said: "The effect is indeed very good. Unfortunately, some patients are too serious. Although they have survived the withdrawal reaction, their brain nerves are severely damaged and there is no way to return to normal."
He sighed and said with some regret: "It would be great if there were drugs that could repair nerves. In this case, there is still hope for these serious drug addicts to become normal people."
Du Cheng said expressionlessly: "Drug developers are not gods and cannot save these people. It is already very rare to be able to alleviate their pain."
The staff member laughed and said: "Of course, good words can't persuade a damn person."
He shook his head with a sigh on his face: "I have worked here for so long, what kind of people have I never seen? Poor people must be hateful."
"Anyway, that's it. Just wait for the notification from above. New alternative treatments are expected to be launched soon."
Du Cheng waved the document in his hand and walked outside.
Not long after receiving the clinical trial report of the painkiller from Sanqing, the superiors realized another use of this non-addictive painkiller.
After all, opioid painkillers have a well-known use around the world besides pain relief.
This use has been severely cracked down at home, resulting in such painkillers being strictly regulated, but not abroad.
In countries around the world, the addiction crisis caused by the abuse of opioid painkillers has always existed and has become a problem that plagues all mankind.
Especially in Eagle Country, this addictive drug, disguised as a legal prescription drug, has entered every patient's medicine box and become their daily necessities.
When the anti-narcotics police around the world destroyed the drug trade, they turned around and discovered that these things had changed their faces and swept in again, and they were still legal.
This is outrageous.
The final result is that 80% of people, the first step to becoming an addict is to swallow the most common painkiller.
According to a report released by the World Health Organization, 69,000 people worldwide die from opioid overdose every year; an estimated 15 million people are addicted to opioids.
There are unscrupulous pharmaceutical companies fueling the situation out of profit motivation, and there are also unscrupulous doctors who prescribe crazy prescriptions to make more money.
Among them, the most famous case is Purdue Pharma and its core product painkiller oxycontin, which is a landmark case of opioid abuse in Eagle Country.
After Purdue Pharma developed OxyContin, it encouraged pharmacies and doctors to promote it through bribery and other means, playing an ugly role in the opioid epidemic crisis in the Eagle Country. Its various crimes are countless.
After more than two decades of hard work, Purdue Pharma successfully caused the opioid epidemic across the country, made huge profits, and ultimately escaped all penalties at the cost of bankruptcy.
Even if the Eagle Country government later realized the dangers of addiction to painkillers and punished some unscrupulous pharmaceutical companies until they went bankrupt, it still could not save the situation of opiate abuse.
In this intensifying trend, pharmaceutical companies actually play a key role. In addition to the bankrupt Purdue Pharma, many well-known pharmaceutical companies including Johnson & Johnson, Allergan, and Teva are also involved.
This medicine was originally intended for pain, but in the end it became a pain for the people of Eagle Country.
Pharmaceutical companies make a lot of money, but the people pay for the tragic consequences.
Therefore, finding a non-addictive and powerful painkiller is the dream of all pharmaceutical companies.
This is the holy grail of medicine.
Find it, not just a painkiller but a solution to the problem of opioid abuse.
Du Cheng looked at the report in his hand and sighed again.
Such a medicine was found by Sanqing.
As soon as it is launched on the market, it will definitely cause a sensation around the world, the benefits it can bring will be immeasurable, and it may be able to create a new myth in the pharmaceutical industry.
From the perspective of social impact, it is no worse than anti-cancer drugs and can completely establish Sanqing's position in the pharmaceutical industry.
Just when Du Cheng was filled with emotion, Zhang Chunhua had already published his paper in The Lancet.
It not only caused a sensation around the world, but also caused an earthquake in the medical circle.
"What, non-addictive painkillers actually exist?"
"Sanqing again? I knew it must be Sanqing. Only Sanqing can develop this magical drug."
"The clinical report shows that the effect is so good that I have some doubts about its credibility."
“You will know how effective it is when it is launched and you try it.”
"I am a brain surgeon. Many of my patients suffer from headaches, and sometimes they are in unbearable pain after surgery. If there is such a good painkiller, it will definitely be good news for them."
"I really want to use such a magical medicine right away."
Not only domestic doctors and pharmaceutical companies are paying attention to this news.
Foreign pharmaceutical giants and doctors also expressed shock.
"I can't believe it. China has developed another blockbuster drug."
"I am very skeptical about the description of addiction. To be cautious, I suggest that we wait for a few years of clinical observation before listing it on the market."
"Yes, the opioid abuse problem in our Eagle Country is already serious, and we don't need an Eastern pharmaceutical company to add fuel to the fire."
"Everyone, this is Sanqing. Do you still remember when you were suspicious of anti-cancer drugs and AD drugs?"
"Yes, we should respect the facts and believe in its efficacy as long as the clinical data are not falsified."
"I am from the Mayo Clinic. I am already on the plane to China. I must find this hospital immediately and see the effects on patients in person. If this is true, I will tell you everything I know. .”
At this moment, a relevant organization in Eagle Country.
The person in charge, Saul, threw the documents in front of him to the ground and roared loudly: "Shit, this is the result of your work? I can find any dog on the street that can do a better job than you."
"Sanqing actually developed something as terrible as non-addictive painkillers. Isn't this against us?"
Brown-haired and blue-eyed Chris sat across from him with a look of panic on his face: "Boss, what should I do? There has been a commotion in the medical community. The chief physician of the Mayo Clinic has gone to China to see the clinical results."
"If this painkiller is allowed to go on the market, it will be a fatal blow to opioid addiction."
"And, you see, the Chinese government is still secretly conducting cruel human experiments on those drug addicts, and it can actually use this painkiller to get them through the withdrawal reaction period. This is simply terrible."
"That's right," Saul slammed the table angrily, making the coffee cup tremble.
"Damn Sanqing, if this drug is put on the market, what will happen to our small treasury?"
"No, this painkiller must be banned! At least within the range illuminated by the Eagle Country Lighthouse, this painkiller cannot be released on the market."
After blowing his beard and staring for a long time, Sol finally came up with a clever trick.
Chris was overjoyed: "The boss is wise, this trick is absolutely effective, but we have to come up with a reasonable excuse, otherwise those nerds will definitely not be fooled and will cause us trouble."
Saul sneered: "Of course the excuse is addiction. Doesn't he say there is no addiction? I don't believe it. This is definitely a lie. Sanqing dares to tell lies with his eyes open. He must be severely punished. Give him a lesson and let them reveal the truth as soon as possible."
"When it comes to telling lies with our eyes open, we are the professionals."
Chris repeatedly praised: "The boss's idea is great. I will go talk to the person in charge of the FDA."
Sol nodded with satisfaction: "Also, we need to find some doctors and experts from our side to make some different voices. The academic circle cannot have only one voice. This is not conducive to academic development. Only constant questioning can supervise science and technology. progress."
Soon, amid the excitement surrounding the new painkiller, some jarring questions emerged.
Some authoritative scholars in the medical industry have put forward different opinions, saying that non-addictive issues should be dealt with carefully.
After all, when OxyContin first came out, no big problems were exposed.
Many opioids did not cause harm to patients when they were first introduced. It was only after long-term clinical use that the fatal shortcomings were discovered.
Therefore, Sanqing, a painkiller that has only been in clinical practice for a few months, must have unknown side effects and adverse reactions.
Clinical trials must be conducted for several more years until all problems are discovered before it can be used on a large scale.
"We already have many addictive painkillers and we don't need to add new ones to the list."
These experts say this. At first glance, what they say seems reasonable. They are conservative opinions and are very mature and prudent.
Although most people want to start using this miracle painkiller immediately, it is not a problem to be cautious.
Just when the trend in the medical circle slowly began to change.
The FDA issued an announcement that completely shocked people.
