By Raymond Miller / Herald Forum
Years of military service exact a physical toll that can appear later in life. Veterans often require more surgeries to address injuries and wear-and-tear sustained during service, increasing their likelihood of experiencing pain and potential exposure to prescription medications.
As a veteran who served for more than a decade, I’ve witnessed how the physical demands of military life can lead to health challenges that require medical intervention.
Too often, opioids are the first answer to managing pain, creating a slippery slope to dependency and addiction. What many don’t realize is that even legitimate medical prescriptions can quickly spiral into a dangerous cycle of misuse and addiction. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 1999 to 2022, approximately 294,000 people in the U.S. died from overdoses involving prescription opioids. That number is incredible, but not surprising as someone who witnessed friends and fellow service members succumb to addiction. Amongst veterans, drug overdose deaths increased by 53 percent during the 2010s.
The Evergreen State has taken important steps to address this epidemic. Attorney General Bob Ferguson worked to hold pharmaceutical companies responsible for their role in this crisis and has secured over $1 billion to address the epidemic. Washington state has also expanded access to overdose reversal treatments. Those are necessary but not sufficient steps if we are looking to end the epidemic.
For that, we need action at the federal level to help prevent addiction. That starts with prioritizing expanding access to effective, non-addictive pain management options. The Alternatives to Prevent Addiction In the Nation (PAIN) Act is a transformative piece of legislation that addresses this need. I urge Washington’s delegation in Congress to support it.
Expanding access to non-opioid treatment options is critical to curbing our reliance on opioids to manage pain. And cost should never be a barrier to safer care. This bipartisan bill would ensure non-opioid pain management options would cost the same as generic opioids for anyone enrolled in Medicare Part D. This means veterans covered by Medicare could access safer pain treatment alternatives without worrying about breaking the bank.
The Alternatives to PAIN Act also makes sure that patients get the care they need when they need it. It gets rid of frustrating bureaucracy such as prior authorization requirements and step therapy, which can delay access to treatment. Eliminating these hurdles means patients who want non-addictive treatment can get it without trying opioids first. It also means providers no longer have to jump through hoops to provide patients options.
Let’s save some lives!
Raymond Miller is retired from the U.S. Air Force. He lives in Marysville.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
