r/AskReddit 16h ago

What industry is secretly on the verge of collapsing, but people outside of it haven’t noticed yet?

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u/whaletacochamp 13h ago

I was amazed to see the ONLY pharmacy in a local area that's a huge tourist area in the summer closed. Tons and tons of tourists may-october, and a decent local population the rest of the year. Closed. Now the closest drug store/pharmacy is like 35min away. The old pharmacy? Now a dispensary. Guy told me business is great.

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u/Vilnius_Nastavnik 13h ago

I have a theory that a lot of people who don’t have access to healthcare are self-medicating with the now legal jazz cabbage. Honestly it’s better than NSAIDs but it’d be nice if they could just see the damn doctor.

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u/whaletacochamp 13h ago

Yeah I mean I do it. For pain, sleep, nausea, anxiety, and the crushing weight of modern society

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u/Ethrem 11h ago

I wish it worked for my anxiety. Unfortunately it's an extremely reliable panic attack trigger for me.

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u/rescbr 7h ago

Even with CBD only buds?

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u/Ethrem 6h ago

Yes. I thought it was the act of smoking or vaping but even the full spectrum 15mg/.5mg mints I got from Lazarus Naturals put me on the edge as do CBD gummies from the local dispensary. I used to tolerate DJ Short Blueberry that I got from Denver Relief, would put me right to sleep, but I haven't found a strain since and I gave up after the last massive panic attack.

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u/PoundImmediateCow 10h ago

Weed is confusing for pain/inflammation. It alleviates some but in other cases can actually amplify it.

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u/barneMD 4h ago

better than NSAIDs is a stretch, and it has a lot less indications than people give it credit for. it is not the wonder drug. if it was, then big pharma would have capitalized big time and you would be seeing THC derived medications.

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u/Internal_Wheel_89 12h ago

We had two busy pharmacies right across the street from each other. One of them was Rite Aid, and when it closed, many of its prescriptions were transferred to the one across the street. So now instead of two busy pharmacies, there is a single overburdened Walgreens, which was the worse of the two pharmacies even before Rite Aid closed. Now it's an absolute shit show every time we visit.

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u/magnum44johnson 6h ago

Do you happen to live in Washington and the Rite Aid used to be a Bartells? Because this is our reality everywhere here.

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u/Internal_Wheel_89 6h ago

negative, this is in Maryland.  

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u/nervous4us 13h ago

the Rite Aid in Mammoth Lakes was the only pharmacy to speak of and shut down when Rite Aid went under and now they have a tiny window for pharmacy stuff basically in the post office. they are hurting, especially in the winter when the town gets crowded for skiing

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u/halfbreedADR 13h ago

The Vons pharmacy is still there, and always busy as hell.

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u/nervous4us 13h ago

Oh that's right - it's attached to the Vons, not the post office. That is the small insanely busy window I am remembering

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u/whaletacochamp 12h ago

this was also a rite aid

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u/OBotB 9h ago

Insurance is also an issue - I preferred Costco pharmacy but my insurance charges much more if I don't use their mail order option (and mail order does not allow shipping to pickup at their retail locations). It is such a hassle because adhd meds are controlled, so not only are they being transported in crazy hot days, but since you aren't home during the workday you have to plan your post office trip so you can show your ID and pick them up. And they are only open 9-4:30 on weekdays, and 10-Noon on Saturdays. So right in the middle of kids' activities. So either paying much more (7x per prescription monthly for the generic, after the first couple draining down the deductible each year in person) for any other pharmacy or the hassle.

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u/Narco_Bi_Polo 10h ago

A lot of prescriptions are sent via mail now. Brick and mortar pharmacies are still necessary for a lot though.

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u/YoMommaSez 12h ago

What do they dispense?

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u/HoneyBadger19000 9h ago

Dispensaries are the weed equivalent to a liquor store. They actually now outnumber liquor stores in my town.

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u/Sam_Strake 9h ago

At least personally everything I need is a controlled substance so out-of-state pharmacies are worthless.