Band-aids are meant to remain on a sore until it heals. It’s not going to last because it gets exposed to water when you clean yourself, or the elasticity turns gummy and black and the Band-aid starts slipping off.

Quick fixes are good sometimes, but they are generally temporary – like the little spare tire that comes with your car that’s only supposed to last until you reach a tire shop (25 miles max). But some people don’t go back to make the real repair or find the permanent solution – until of course the quick fix fizzles. And some people don’t take off the Band-aid because it hurts to rip it off, it psychologically makes the boo-boo feel better, or it’s just forgotten.

The Band-aids discussed here are a lot bigger and more dangerous when left unattended or used as a permanent fix because it’s easier or handy. And allowing them to persist causes even greater damage.

One of the Band-aids used is pharmaceuticals (legal and illegal ones). The exception is medication that is used to sustain or relieve someone’s life because of chronic issues. Otherwise, using over-the-counter or prescribed drugs for temporary ailments should remain temporary. Pain due to an accident has been an example of why people kept using pain medication – even years after an accident – because the drugs were addictive (opioid epidemic). All addictive substances create societal issues like abuse, homelessness, and criminal activity.

Other Band-aids that affect society include activity deteriorating the environment that is addressed only after crises such as Flint’s water issue; appeasing a class of citizens that has a bigger representation in Congress until detrimental issues such as school shootings arise; and domestic abuse that turns to murder because restraining orders were inadequate.