HHS Takes Aim at Opioids, White House Report Targets Privacy Coins

Daily Digest
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Originally published at: https://peakprosperity.com/daily-digest/hhs-takes-aim-at-opiods-white-house-report-targets-privacy-coins/

Health

The FDA has announced comprehensive label changes for opioid painkillers to highlight long-term risks. The updated labels will feature detailed risk summaries, enhanced dosage warnings, and cautions against abrupt cessation for dependent users. They will also restrict recommendations for long-term use, limiting extended-release opioids to cases where alternatives are ineffective. The decision follows studies indicating high rates of misuse and addiction, alongside data from the CDC showing nearly 806,000 overdose deaths since 1999, as part of efforts to address transparency in the ongoing public health crisis related to opioids. Some healthcare professionals and groups like the American Pain Society have expressed concern that these changes could limit access to necessary pain management for chronic conditions, advocating for a balanced approach, as reported on social media and in health policy discussions.

Economy

The White House has published its Digital Assets Report, proposing a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies. The report supports tax exemptions and self-custody rights while identifying financial privacy as a significant concern for potential money laundering, according to the document. It calls for finalizing a PATRIOT Act rule to limit transactions that obscure fund origins, proposes extending Bank Secrecy Act requirements to decentralized finance (DeFi), and suggests digital identities for transaction verification, as outlined in the report. The absence of detailed information on U.S. government bitcoin holdings has prompted ongoing discussion among industry observers, per cryptocurrency news sources. While some in the crypto community and figures like Senator Cynthia Lummis have criticized the lack of transparency and potential privacy intrusions, others, including FinCEN, argue these measures are essential to combat illicit activities, as reflected in public statements and media coverage.

Geopolitics

Gold prices rose by $73 an ounce on Friday, a more than 2% increase within hours, which some market analysts attribute to fears of escalating conflict. This follows heightened rhetoric between the U.S. and Russia, with President Trump ordering the repositioning of nuclear submarines after statements from Russian officials that included references to hypersonic missile capabilities and nuclear warnings, as reported by various international news outlets. Analyst Martin Armstrong, using his predictive model, has claimed a near-term panic cycle and a 100% likelihood of nuclear war, identifying August 18, 2025, as a significant date, according to his public statements.

Separately, Russian special forces reportedly captured active-duty British NATO officers and an alleged MI-6 agent during a raid on a Ukrainian command center in Ochakiv, Ukraine. Moscow claims the detained British personnel were coordinating missile and drone strikes against Russian targets, while London asserts they were tourists, a position Russia has rejected citing evidence of military involvement, as per official statements from both sides. Russia has declined to exchange the detainees, adding strain to relations with Britain and NATO, according to diplomatic sources. However, the British Ministry of Defence and outlets like The Kyiv Independent have denied these claims, labeling them as potential disinformation, while Russian state media continues to assert the validity of the capture, highlighting the conflicting narratives surrounding the incident.

Slovenia has become the first EU nation to impose a complete arms embargo on Israel, citing the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Prime Minister Robert Golob announced the ban, which covers all import, export, and transit of military equipment involving Israel, according to a government statement. Slovenia, a NATO member since 2004, also recognized Palestinian statehood earlier this year, as part of its broader foreign policy stance on the region, per official records. While Slovenia’s move has been noted as significant by some European commentators, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has voiced concern over Israel’s potential isolation, emphasizing continued support from other EU nations, as reported by international media.

US Politics

Several political developments are unfolding in the U.S. The Office of Special Counsel has launched an investigation into former Trump prosecutor Jack Smith following allegations raised by President Trump and other Republican figures concerning his prior investigations, as reported by congressional sources. Separately, former FBI Director Chris Wray is under review after the Oversight Project referred him to the DOJ for allegedly providing inaccurate statements to Congress regarding an FBI memo on Catholics and a halted investigation into a Chinese mail-in voting scheme linked to the 2020 election, according to the group’s public filings.

In judicial news, Judge Cannon has sealed evidence in a Trump assassination case involving Ryan Routh, citing potential risks to national security, as stated in court documents. Additionally, the Supreme Court is set to hear Louisiana v. Callais, a case on race-based congressional districts that could impact electoral maps and potentially affect up to 25 House seats in the 2026 midterms, based on analyses from legal experts and political analysts. Regarding the Supreme Court case, organizations like the NAACP have warned that a ruling against race-based districts could harm minority representation, a concern echoed by some mainstream outlets, while others note potential benefits for fairer electoral mapping, as discussed in political analyses.

Sources

Gold Surges as Nuclear War Tensions Escalate, Analyst Warns of Imminent Crisis

Armstrong says, “Honestly, this is turning into a grade school fight. I don’t know what Trump expects. He’s hurling insult after insult, and there is no possibility of peace anymore.”

Source | Submitted by Rodster

Russia Captures Active-Duty NATO Officers and MI-6 Agent in Ukraine, Escalating Tensions with Britain

The British had the gall to tell the Russians that the men “were interested in naval history and wanted to visit the coast where battles were fought during the Second World War.”

Source | Submitted by RandomMike

FDA Orders Sweeping Label Overhaul for Opioid Painkillers to Highlight Long-Term Risks

“Today’s FDA action is a long-overdue step toward restoring honesty, accountability, and transparency to a system that betrayed the American people.”

Source

Slovenia Takes Bold Stand: First EU Nation to Impose Arms Embargo on Israel

It is the duty of any responsible country to act, even if that means taking the lead.

Source

Special Counsel Launches Investigation into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith

Federal officials are investigating former special counsel Jack Smith after President Donald Trump and other prominent Republicans have alleged that his investigations

Source

Former FBI Director Chris Wray Referred to DOJ for Allegedly Lying to Congress About Anti-Catholic Bias and Chinese Voting Scheme

“Well, what I can tell you is you’re referring to the Richmond product, which is a single product by a single field office, which as soon as I found out about it, I was aghast and ordered it withdrawn and removed from FBI systems,” Wray said.

Source

Judge Cannon Seals Evidence in Trump Assassination Case, Citing National Security Concerns

Judge Cannon SEALS evidence in Trump assassination case involving Ryan Routh, citing “exceptionally grave damages to U.S. National Security.”

Source

Supreme Court Case Could End Race-Based Districts, Handing GOP a 2026 Midterm Edge

This would give Republicans a huge advantage heading into the 2026 midterms.

Source

White House Digital Assets Report Targets Financial Privacy as “Primary Money Laundering Concern”

FinCEN’s “mixer” rule would deem any transaction facilitated in a manner that obfuscates the source, destination, or amount involved in one or more transactions a “primary money laundering concern”, regardless of the type of protocol or service used.

Source | Submitted by AaronMcKeon

In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: British Ministry of Defence, The Kyiv Independent, American Pain Society, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, The New York Times, NAACP, Senator Cynthia Lummis, FinCEN.

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Mr. Smith goes to Washington and I agree with Martin Armstrong that this won’t end well for the Untied States and We The People:

"Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has also come to realize the reality of Washington. She has said she is surrounded by “deep state actors” within the government who are actively working to undermine the president’s agenda and suppress information. These are the people who think they are defending the Constitution, but they are taking us into World War III.

This is what 2032 is all about. They will bankrupt the West, and the Financial Capital of the World will move to China. Sorry, that is what the computer is projecting. It’s not my opinion. I am just so glad I am not 18 today."

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“The computer is projecting…” is about the last thing I would worry about. Back when I was a heavy computer user we had a saying “garbage in - garbage out.” Yes, I had a 1/3 of a million dollar computer mostly to my own use 40 years ago, but it did only what I told it to do. If I misunderstood how the world worked then what the computer told me would happen in some new scenario would not line up with the results of tests of real world experiments. Then again “stuff happens” so give yourself the best odds of success, shoot for the heights and if you fall short you’ll still end up in a good place.

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I have mixed feelings about the whole opiod thing.

I have lost people to addiction. In this regard they were harmful. I have also seen them make life livable for others.

I had an elderly friend who took a small dose of a low powered opioid medication most but not all mornings. He would take the pill then take his nebulizer treatment then have a cup of coffee. By time all that was done his pain would have subsided and he could move about well enough to shower and shave and get dressed. He would rest then Make his bed, go outside and smoke a cigarette and watch the birds at the feeders and bird bath, and pull a few weeds from garden containers. He had a somewhat active morning for a few hours.

A doctor decided it was wrong for him to have the opioid, and refused to write the script. But also told him not to take NSAIDs etc. My friends quality of life plunged rapidly. He needed help to do his morning activities of daily living, and lost his dignity and privacy of being able to do it for himself.

In my thinking there is no harm in a 85-90 years old who does not drive or operate heavy equipment to have a few hours of resource from painful living each day.

On the other hand I have known many situations where insurance companies delayed and denied surgeries after work related accidents or car wrecks, and kept people on opioids instead and they became addicted. Some never got over that addiction.

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There are some people - like the doctor you mention that would not prescribe an opioid for an elderly man so that he could have some respite from pain and some basic human dignity- who are nothing more than highly educated fools. As well as lacking basic common sense they are seemingly lacking in human empathy also. You have to wonder at the kind of tortuously idiotic thought process going on in the mind of such an individual as that doctor. Yes, some people can become addicted to many substances that are simply god-sends that enable a functional life for others. I wish these bureaucratic machines would learn that the road to hell (for others) is often paved with good intensions. Worrying over the potential for an 80 year old becoming a junkie is as absurd as it gets.

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I think at some point physicians and dentists started getting look at with regard to the scripts the write for controlled substances and this may have happened about the same time people started doctor shopping for pain meds. Many docs did a shift away from writing such scripts which is understandable but to become so severely black and white over it seems more like something an instance company would do.

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My two go-to items for pain relief: near infrared, and PEMF.

My accident was pretty bad, and once I got these devices, I didn’t use pain meds any more. They both are non-addictive, but PEMF can’t be used if you have some sort of electronic implant. And its a bad idea to put your phone or computer next to the PEMF applicator.

Problem: they aren’t cheap. But - no need to get refills and no addiction risk.

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I think many are afraid to prescribe opioids, not just because of potential addiction but because state or institution oversight examines the frequency of prescriptions a doctor writes for these drugs. They don’t want to come under scrutiny for over-prescribing. I agree, though, that many elderly folks could have a better quality of life if they could be more pain-free.

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Definitely agree. For me, when needed, they work exactly as they are supposed to with no signs of addiction. Recent surgery however, I ended up badly constipated. Then there’s my mom, she was addicted to vicodin, and we’re almost positive it’s what killed her. She had dementia that was advancing, and she wouldn’t remember taking a pill, so she’d take another one. I learned after her massive life ending stroke, that vicodin can cause strokes.

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I used infrared, tens, and a massage mat with shiatzu massage, rollers, and heat for my back after the car wreck. I had a few muscle relaxers left over from years before and employed a few of those over the next year or so. I recently asked my doc for a new script. He looked at the bottle that still had 4 in it and said “well, you’re not abusing them are you.” I confessed that now that I am not afraid to be left without any to fall back on if I wake up in severe pain, I might lower the bar for when I take them a tiny bit. Fortunately the trajectory has been toward fewer and fewer bad days.

I was pleasantly surprised how much pain relieve the folding massage mattress brought. I actually had someone coming to use it for a while, after they hurt their lower back working and my daughters take advantage of it when they are home.

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I have gone woo-woo and ordered a 128 Hz. (concert C) weighted tuning fork, that believe it or not, when I activate it and place the end on the area that hurts, it does help. Apparently, that frequency activates Pacinian corpuscles and can help with nerve pain. I’m also considering a vertical vibration plate that can be adjusted anywhere from 10-40 Hz. which can help build bone density.

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That bone-density thing - supposedly jump-rope works too. And its free. :slight_smile:

Pre-accident it was the boring thing I did every week. Now I have to be slower about it all. Who knew it was so cardio intensive? Supposedly the impact helps the bone to recover similar to vibration. I started slowly. I just do the jumping minus the rope right now. The rope will come later, once I can do a few minutes at a time.

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I’m sure jumping rope helps more than one thing! I use a small rebounder trampoline (easier on my joints).

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Yeah I’ve heard good things about trampolines too. I can see how they’d be easier on the joints. There are lots of pretty easy fixes to all these problems. They just take doing.

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On a violin that same note is a couple “cents” more at 130.8x HZ.

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Riiiight… does the FDA and HHS really give a shit about citizens’ health or could it be that Russia’s recent recognition of the Taliban in Afghanistan threw a wrench in the supply of poppies and they have to clamp down?

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They sell handles you hold that mimic a jump rope with something that swivels out of the end where a rope would be. Some of them have a counter built in.

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I keep hearing about the rebounders. I am in a fitness and health discussion group. We have a group conversation twice a month. A couple of the women have rebounders and report great things. I started reading about them and it seems they are a great time saver in that a small 10 min session equates to much a longer period of walking for example.

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