Scientific American - November 2018

6 Scientific American, November 2018

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complex, entangled interactions among
quantum systems give rise to the world
we perceive. But not all physicists believe
that decoherence solves the measurement
problem. What is it that causes us to see
one part of the quantum elephant and
not another? It seems we still need to in-
voke some kind of collapse to explain
why we see the elephant’s trunk rather
than its tail.

DRUG ADDICTION
In “Safe Injection Facilities Save Lives”
[Science Agenda], the editors argue for
the use of places in which addicts can
consume illegal drugs under medical su-
pervision as a way to fight the opioid cri-
sis. The essay rings true to me. I am a Ca-
nadian, and we continue to go through
the same issues of resistance to such
sites, which are very much a public
health measure rather than a way to en-
courage user activity.
The reasons for promoting safe sites
are many: people who use drugs will
keep doing so regardless, and is it not
better to do so in a warm, dry setting
rather than behind some dumpster? Ad-
ditionally, clean, sterile injection equip-
ment means there is much less chance of
contracting an infectious disease. Medi-
cal costs for prevention are also much
less than for treatment.
J. M. STONE via e-mail

MANAGING PAIN
In “Why We Won’t Miss Opioids” [The
Science of Health, June 2018], Claudia
Wallis reports on research finding that
opioids are not more effective at com-
bating chronic pain than nonopioid
drugs are.
As a practicing dentist, I can say
that Wallis is spot on about the num-
bers and amounts of opioids prescribed
in dentistry in particular. Even if it’s
impossible to totally ditch opioids, es-
pecially if you’re doing surgery involv-
ing bone cutting, nonsteroidal anti-in-
flammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are an ex-
cellent substitute. And there is a
significant difference in pain control
between 400  milligrams of ibuprofen
and 600 to 800 mg. Ask me how I know:
back surgery!
WES BLAESLEE Wall Township, N.J.