rickbolger;c-35406 wroteAccording to Forbes, "Today, Purdue, still 100% owned by the Sackler family, generates some $3 billion in sales in the U.S. Separate Sackler-owned companies sell drugs in Europe, Canada, Asia and Latin America."
With that annual $3B in mind, I suggest boycotting CVS, Rite Aid, Wal Mart, Stop N Shop Pharmacy, etc. etc. as a more effective stand against the opioid crisis than boycotting a ski pass. Ever see how busy they are on a Friday evening in suburbia?
Odd that
CVS has nothing here about addiction.
If you have a 401k holding mutual funds, keep digging. If you have a Roth IRA or traditional IRA you might be alarmed at how much Peak Resorts stock is owned by Vanguard.
I had a family member die at his kitchen table with a needle in his hand a couple years ago. His 5-year-old found him.
Vanguard owns 8% of CVS
CVS just bought Aetna.
If this makes you feel sick, CVS has a "pharmacist tip"
on this page.
Citi, Wellington, Russell, and the NY State Retirement Fund are all heavily invested in Rite Aid.
Pharmacies won't dispense it without a prescription.
Some points to ponder for sure Rick.
First off, I am and will continue to evaluate my portfolio for investments more suited to my personal experiences and beliefs, and I'm sure avoiding small positions I don't agree with will be difficult if not futile.
As for boycotting, I'm not sure that I'll do that fully with any company, fund, ski pass, etc. There are pros and cons. Pharmacies? No, They dispense drugs as prescribed, supposedly needed by the patients. I blame a lot of drug issues on manufacturers who incentify prescribing drugs, and the many (certainly far from all) doctors who over prescribe most anything, often for kickbacks, or to quickly turn over patients by giving them whatever they want. I can't stop seeing Drs. entirely, and prescriptions are sometimes warranted. My Peak Pass? It is paid for and I will use it. Will I renew again, only time will tell, but I live real close to Crotched, and may not have another reasonable option even if it's against my better judgement. What I will do is give the entire Peak portfolio what I called the Atittash treatment this season: no ancillary purchases. I'll get my skis tuned off hill and bring a lunch. There are cons to this approach as well, as if too many do as I do, jobs will be lost. But are there even people to do these jobs right now?
I have stopped taking all prescription drugs, unless extensive testing proves they are really needed. How did I get to this point?
A dozen years ago I was gravely ill, and down to 130 pounds. Anyone who has met me in person knows that I'm not a small person. After life saving major surgery Drs. (I had at least a dozen involved, likely more) had me on no fewer than 13 prescription drugs. THIRTEEN. Including Oxycontin. I felt like a zombie day in and day out, and to make matters worse my co pays were about $500 a month and I couldn't work. Long story short, after confronting my doctors about about excessive medication, I went cold turkey on everything. After a rather brief withdrawal period I improved daily, gained weight quickly and regained my health in short order. And back to skiing!
Sorry this was too long. I just have real issues with drug companies and Doctors who over subscribe for $$$$$.
And Rick, I'm really sorry for your loss. It has happened to far too many families.
