Huh...The little squirt just actually earned my respect here.

Oh really?

Yeah painkiller addiction is a big deal even in the real world(especially with the likes of wrestling and so on where dispite fights being scripted wrestlers wind up getting banged up a lot with a lot of pressure to return to work before theyre really ready to).Id like to think that in boxing or the ufc that its not a big problem these days but I imagine it still is dispite rules and regulations.

Also yeah Muko needs to apply more common sense and not get into fights where not only can she not possibly win but she could possibly get killed.In a nastier universe she couldve easily gotten put in intensive care,stabbed or just ganged up on and beaten half to death with goodness knows what else-Thankfully the biker chick and her buddies seem to be noobs when it comes to protection rackets and so on.

Oh I know about the painkiller bit.

It's this other thing.

Cookie has a point! Glad to see muko understands...kind off...but what about that stuff about the heart of a true furry fighter. She was courage a at least.

Cookie is some contradictory little squirrel-lady.

Still...It's nice to see she's pushing Muko in the right direction at least!

I wonder if she'll bring up Muko's hard work...Time wil tell!

Huh...that's a really good point, actually.

She’s right though, painkillers are very addictive especially the strong opioids like Oxy. I had a friend who got addicted to opioid painkillers, it got so bad he started stealing from friends and family to feed it. Three years later he overdosed and died.

Thousands of people are dying this way and none of the big companies care. They used their money and influence to pressure congress into limiting the power of the people trying to investigate the issue. It’s so fucking disgusting.

Sorry this just brought up old bad memories for me.

thanks for sharing your story and i´m very sorry for your loss. those things really can mess people up.

Thank you.

Could be very intriguing if we meet an enemy Combagal who happens to be going through such issues with the painkillers.

i rarely bring up a theme in this story without a plan in mind.

I don't doubt it! I'm intrigued to see what you'll cook up. ^^

the things are 2

1. Cookie knows well painkiller consequences because she was a combatgal or was already someone manager, but her career didn't end well
2. Just an excuse for saving money

i see you see some hints there.

...

I do understand that there's definite potential for the abuse of opioids out in the world these days, and that painkillers can be problematic. At the same time, there are those that are in such extreme pain that they need painkillers of such caliber to function. And no, to anyone that decides to comment on this saying that it's just the addiction. This is a person with a combination of kidney stones, severe chronic pancreatitis, liver calcification, migraines, and much more. Painkillers that are less than that are just not sufficient.

I do get the way that this comic is over the top and meant to be a good character builder, and there's probably a different message going on here, and that this character doesn't need high-strength painkillers now, but...

I dunno. Just hit a personal note, I guess.

Still love your comic, just something that hit me with that being said and the general response in the comments.

yeah, i don´t want to propose painkillers are a bad thing in general or that i´m necessarily agreeing with cookies stance here.
i mean i take my painkillers even for the occassional hangover as well. cookie wouldn´t like it, but luckily she´s not my manager.

Thanks for letting me know. And I figured that the sheer spectacle of this didn't necessarily reflect your own views, I just wanted to add my point of view since a lot of people were kinda "Yeah, you're right, cookie!" and all that. Heh. Call me strange.

Indeed. Like any other form of medicine painkillers can be used only as needed.

I'd say both you and Cookie are in the right. The difference between yours and Cookie's stance is that those you mention genuinely need it through no fault of their own and have the oversight of a doctor. Furthermore, occasional use generally won't cause issues over time. These aren't the folks Cookie's addressing here.

On the other hand, some people in active professions routinely push themselves too far and end up constantly hurting their bodies. Once or twice is understandable, but they keep pushing it over and over and end up addicted to painkillers for something they could have avoided had they paid attention to their body. The need to perform outweighs their need to care for their health. Addiction to painkiller is a legitimate real life problem among athletes and certain sorts of actresses, one that managers often exploit for profit and fame by turning a blind eye. Yes, Muko would be fine if she took the painkillers once or twice, but Cookie wants to avoid the potential trap Muko could potentially fall into if she doesn't care for her health as she should.

In short, Cookie's railing against the abuse of painkillers by active professionals rather than against painkillers themselves for short-term use or for necessary long-term medical problems.

I completely understand the whole overusing and addiction thing that people talk about. It is a genuine problem.

However, considering that currently we're starting to deal with more and more crackdowns on doctors being able to prescribe these things, and how much judgment there is if you're on them at all, and the effects of that level of pain when the person I know runs out...

I just don't like to see that level of judgment applied indiscriminately, as if the addicts are the only ones out there, and that there would be no problem with a blanket ban of them, and considering Cookie's denying ANY use of them rather than supervising it, and seeing so many commentators agreeing with that and talking about addiction out there, I wanted to make sure to point out the other side of things.

Don't think over-the-counter analgesics pose much of a threat, squirrel boss.

It also didn't really help that she was more focused on groping her opponents chest then actually fighting. x3

Wow, she has a point (in context of course).

I am really loving Cookie right now. I am getting a hint at a possible backstory here.

Awh so she does care ^^

Excellent message. They can become addicting without actually being 'addicting' just to avoid the pain. @.@

I think Muko may need daily spankings to further emphasis the point and to increase her toughness. >:D

..she's actually right xD

Muko this is for your protection as much as hard and annoying as it sounds

She does tell the truth though, painkillers don't do anything but mask the pain. The damage is still there and needs the same time to heal properly whether you take them or not.

A truth, but one that is quite obviously born from previous faults that she desires not to repeat.

Now I think Muko needs dinosaurs to teach her actual combagal fighting.

Teryx the Archaeopteryx to be exact.

NO PAIN NO GAIN! Yeaaaa xD

Respect restored. This is good, way to many athletes have completely destroyed them selves because of pain pills. Either becoming addicted or being numbed to the damage they are taking and not letting heal.