Letter: Opioid crisis leaves pain patients behind

Published 1:30 am Sunday, October 16, 2016

I understand and agree that our country and state are experiencing an explosion in opioid abuse and overdose deaths. Any loss or degradation of life is tragic. There is, however, another group of people deeply affected by this “crisis” we don’t hear much about. Folks who live in constant, unbearable pain and can barely function now that the one remedy to easing their pain has been taken from them. From arthritis to injury to surgery to fibromyalgia, there’s a good percentage of people following a doctor’s prescription exactly as written to relieve pain and function again.

I searched, but couldn’t find overdose stats on those taking opioids exactly as prescribed. Nor stats on overdoses by individuals taking medication not prescribed to them. Natural selection? The government has clinics and family practice doctors afraid to prescribe opioids to anyone for chronic pain, despite one’s individual track record. Good luck finding a pain clinic if you have state insurance. I find it interesting opium production skyrocketed in Afghanistan just after the UN invaded. In turn, heroin prices went down. You don’t suppose? Nah. However, a person in a great deal of pain is less likely to stand up to oppression.

Stephen M. Long

Arlington