I thank you for this excellent newsletter and would like to connect you with informed sources if you are interested regarding the shortages of medications, including controlled medications that are being unnecessarily imposed in a misguided attempt to reduce addiction and overdose, two severe problems that are also not receiving adequate attention and care, as overdoses skyrocket. The contribution of prescription medication to patients for whom it was prescribed has always been low. The news talks about fentanyl without mentioning the fentanyl that kills is 100s to 1000s of times stronger than the prescription variety-it is animal tranquilizer. We have a growing number of severely injured and aging, progressive, autoimmune and/or genetic disease patients who rely on these medications to be able to have any life or activities yet prescribing has fallen 60%, disproportionately among the patients needing long term care, and their physicians are also being targeted. The disabled community is being targeted by non-FDA approved AI programs that prevent their care.
There is zero publicity. Many suicides have occurred. Every year despite shortages the DEA announces more cutbacks, and patients can’t find a physician even to care for non-pain related issues because they are seen as a liability. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Thank you, Lee! I would love to be connected to the resources you mention. I think about these developments a lot because my own medications have been affected (and I covered things just a bit in the newsletter, like when the CDC released new guidelines on prescribing opioids in fall of 2022 - https://cripnews.substack.com/i/80377418/in-other-news), so it would be great to know how we can push for better reporting on this.
I don’t have the answers either! I just keep hoping together we can make a difference. You are doing more than I am already and thank you.
I write legislators, I’ve had a state legislator to my home, I had a Human Rights Watch rep to my home, I’ve attended state pain treatment guideline meetings, made lots of calls, that sort of thing. I keep thinking because physician specialty groups have lobbyists already, perhaps of many of us called, say, the AMA, the groups for rheumatology, orthopedics, neurology, neurosurgery, , etc, and suggested they need to revamp education and take this fight to politicians for us to keep their members out of prison, they COULD make a difference.
Thank you! Apologies-that was before I started following you! No one is required to report on that topic and I love the topics you cover. But I’m so glad you are interested.
I struggle to keep up myself as I’m sure many of us do. My spouse and myself are disabled and in pain and it’s been a journey I’d wish on no one.
The updated guidelines read as if they’re better, but they’re worse, and state laws were made off the guidelines in most if not all states, which is a huge problem. Also the DEA uses the guidelines nationally to prosecute as if the numbers 50MME and 90MME are hard limits. The stats from CDC are flawed, which they’ve admitted, quietly. I’m not here to put down medicine or science in general, but we have some bad actors who have hurt the disabled and we have a system that needs an overhaul.
One of the best sources is painnewsnetwork.org run by a retired journalist and free of funding from pharma and other large biased sources. The editor wants to help people in pain and disabled. You can reach him through the site.
Hey, thanks so much for the shoutout! I learned that you featured the video I did from someone who told me about Crip News on my Instagram account, so I sought you out and subscribed just now. 😊
If you're interested, I also have a Substack where I've been writing about my journey as a disabled artist and the work that I'm doing for my 2024 exhibit. https://athenacreative.substack.com/
I thank you for this excellent newsletter and would like to connect you with informed sources if you are interested regarding the shortages of medications, including controlled medications that are being unnecessarily imposed in a misguided attempt to reduce addiction and overdose, two severe problems that are also not receiving adequate attention and care, as overdoses skyrocket. The contribution of prescription medication to patients for whom it was prescribed has always been low. The news talks about fentanyl without mentioning the fentanyl that kills is 100s to 1000s of times stronger than the prescription variety-it is animal tranquilizer. We have a growing number of severely injured and aging, progressive, autoimmune and/or genetic disease patients who rely on these medications to be able to have any life or activities yet prescribing has fallen 60%, disproportionately among the patients needing long term care, and their physicians are also being targeted. The disabled community is being targeted by non-FDA approved AI programs that prevent their care.
There is zero publicity. Many suicides have occurred. Every year despite shortages the DEA announces more cutbacks, and patients can’t find a physician even to care for non-pain related issues because they are seen as a liability. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Thank you, Lee! I would love to be connected to the resources you mention. I think about these developments a lot because my own medications have been affected (and I covered things just a bit in the newsletter, like when the CDC released new guidelines on prescribing opioids in fall of 2022 - https://cripnews.substack.com/i/80377418/in-other-news), so it would be great to know how we can push for better reporting on this.
Happy to add more as desired. You may be aware of those and may not want or need more. Hope you have a low pain day.
Nationalpain.org
Kate Nicholson is a former pain patient and civil rights attorney
I don’t have the answers either! I just keep hoping together we can make a difference. You are doing more than I am already and thank you.
I write legislators, I’ve had a state legislator to my home, I had a Human Rights Watch rep to my home, I’ve attended state pain treatment guideline meetings, made lots of calls, that sort of thing. I keep thinking because physician specialty groups have lobbyists already, perhaps of many of us called, say, the AMA, the groups for rheumatology, orthopedics, neurology, neurosurgery, , etc, and suggested they need to revamp education and take this fight to politicians for us to keep their members out of prison, they COULD make a difference.
Thank you! Apologies-that was before I started following you! No one is required to report on that topic and I love the topics you cover. But I’m so glad you are interested.
I struggle to keep up myself as I’m sure many of us do. My spouse and myself are disabled and in pain and it’s been a journey I’d wish on no one.
The updated guidelines read as if they’re better, but they’re worse, and state laws were made off the guidelines in most if not all states, which is a huge problem. Also the DEA uses the guidelines nationally to prosecute as if the numbers 50MME and 90MME are hard limits. The stats from CDC are flawed, which they’ve admitted, quietly. I’m not here to put down medicine or science in general, but we have some bad actors who have hurt the disabled and we have a system that needs an overhaul.
One of the best sources is painnewsnetwork.org run by a retired journalist and free of funding from pharma and other large biased sources. The editor wants to help people in pain and disabled. You can reach him through the site.
More soon. Best my friend.
Hey, thanks so much for the shoutout! I learned that you featured the video I did from someone who told me about Crip News on my Instagram account, so I sought you out and subscribed just now. 😊
If you're interested, I also have a Substack where I've been writing about my journey as a disabled artist and the work that I'm doing for my 2024 exhibit. https://athenacreative.substack.com/