We’ve been told that prescription opioids are too dangerous. That they must be restricted. That anyone taking them—even under the care of a doctor—is somehow at risk of overdose or death.

But here’s what no one talks about:

The drugs that line store shelves—Tylenol, Advil, Motrin—kill far more people than most think. And unlike opioids, you don’t need a prescription. No warning labels. No pharmacy safeguards. Just a bottle and a broken system that says, “These are fine.” My own doctor, Dr. Justin Curole at UC Davis Health recommended 800mg of Advil and 3000mg of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) daily along with Suboxone (That was making me black out) for pain, for the REST of my life! How irresponsible is that. All to avoid a slightly higher, within safe range, additional dose of Oxycodone. I felt as if he would have rather put me in danger than prescribe against a systemic policy, even if unsafe for his patients.

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Acetaminophen (Tylenol) – A Leading Cause of Liver Failure

– **500 deaths per year in the U.S.** 
– **56,000 emergency room visits annually** 
– **2,600 hospitalizations from overdose** 
– **#1 cause of acute liver failure in the U.S.**, often from people unknowingly doubling up on cold meds and pain relievers 
(Source: FDA, NIH, [Lancet](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12399258/))

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NSAIDs (Advil, Motrin, Naproxen) – Deadly in the Long Term

– **7,600 deaths every year** 
– **76,000 hospitalizations** from gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, and internal damage 
– Increased risk of **heart attack and stroke**, especially in older adults or those with heart disease 
(Source: American Journal of Medicine, FDA, [AJM Study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10759087/))

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Meanwhile… Chronic Pain Patients Are Treated Like Criminals

The irony is brutal:

– Patients on **monitored, prescribed opioid regimens** are cut off, stigmatized, and forced to justify every pill. 
– Meanwhile, **anyone can buy a bottle of Tylenol or Advil and take enough to die**—and no one blinks.

Doctors are encouraged to tell chronic pain patients to “try NSAIDs” or “take Tylenol” instead of effective medications—**even when these patients have documented risks or a long history of tolerance to opioids.**

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Let’s Be Honest About Risk

This isn’t about which drug is better. It’s about **honesty**.

If the system truly cared about preventing harm, it would:

– Support doctors in individualized pain management 
– Stop weaponizing MME charts that ignore tolerance 
– Educate the public on the **real risks** of over-the-counter meds 
– Acknowledge that some patients need opioids to survive and function

Instead, it’s easier to banish opioids—and pretend Tylenol and Advil are harmless.

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### **The Real Danger Isn’t the Pill. It’s the Policy.**

People die from Tylenol every year. People die from NSAIDs. But the government never launched a national crackdown. Pharmacies didn’t start treating customers like criminals. There were no prescription limits.

So why is it different for opioids—especially when prescribed and monitored?

Because it was never just about safety. It was about politics, public perception, and liability.

And that’s why we’re fighting back.

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*Share this. Talk to your friends. Ask your doctor. And don’t let anyone tell you opioids are “too dangerous” while they hand you a bottle of Tylenol with a smile.*