Mackenzie Phillips addresses America's opiate epidemic

Larry King: Have you seen a rise in opiate use in the Los Angeles area like we’ve seen in rural areas of the country?

Mackenzie Phillips: Absolutely. I know rural areas are being hit so hard with this epidemic, let’s call it what it is, an epidemic.

Larry King: What’s causing that?

Mackenzie Phillips: I don’t know. I mean, I think it’s starting with availability, with prescribers who are handing out opioids like candy. And it’s just snowballing. People are dropping dead all day long.

Larry King: Doctors give it because chronic pain is chronic pain.

Mackenzie Phillips: Correct.

Larry King: How do you cure chronic pain? People want the pain to stop.

Mackenzie Phillips: Right.

Larry King: And it works, right?

Mackenzie Phillips: It works but it also, I believe that it probably, that ibuprofen at a high dose is probably more effective than oxytocin. Cause then you can function. And then there are other ways to deal with pain. There are mindfulness interventions. There’s breathing, there’s yoga. There’s all different ways to deal with pain. Now, I don’t want to piss off all the people there who have serious and severe chronic pain for which they need opioid medication. I am asking the prescribers to be more aware of who they’re writing prescriptions for, and what the people are going to do with those medications.

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