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What is left out is the 1.33 Million Chronic Pain patients with incurable diseases and botched surgeries or degenerative spines. Opioids are their only way to be productive or want to live.

Suicide rates have climbed due to the drastic cut back in prescription opioids. Each patient has to be accessed for need. And why should we who use our meds responsibly be responsible for those who don’t? Or mix them with illegal street drugs or booze.

They are just driving up our suicide rates as we get no pain control or so little it is useless. Drs. are scared to prescribe for us. Lyrica, Neurotin, Cymbalta are WAY MORE ADDICTIVE and have MORE HORRID SIDE EFFECTS, and Lyrica and Neurotin are on the DEA list.

Did you read this post? Thank you, Dennis, for addressing this. When I worked in oncology, I remember several of my patients being refused appropriate pain management by their physicians. When the families discussed this with me and sought my help, my inquiries with their physicians was met with an all too familiar explanation. The doctors are simply afraid for their careers. The DEA monitors how much narcotics and other painkillers each doctor prescribes. If it appears a physician is prescribing a large amount, it can trigger an audit of his practice. This can be devastating to a doctor’s career, and is not deserved. While I believe in harsh punishments for doctors who enable drug addicts, these DEA regulations are yet another area of government regulation that defies common sense and needs overhauling or simply eliminating. Let law enforcement worry about catching the criminals, and let doctors care for their patient’s needs, including their pain management.

I will never forget, even after over 30 years, the poor husband and father, writhing in so much agony from terminal brain cancer, that the nurses were forced to tie him to his bed with restraints.

I’m not an advocate of euthanasia, but we treat our pets better than this. When the patient is terminal or incurable, possible drug addiction shouldn’t even be on the radar.
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I’ve been through 9 Peripheral Neuropathy drugs due to a degenerative spine and collapsed discs, to find 1 that works with out the horrid side effects. Take it away and I’ll need a wheel chair. And that does not count the OA/OP/Gastropresis/or Fibromyalgia, even my Hypothyroidism causes pain. Try living in pain 24/7/365. I am not responsible for those who OD on their meds, they are many have underlying mental health issues.

My friend’s son took a shot gun and took his life because of mental health issues.

NO CONNECTION TO PAIN MEDS
ADDICTION https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2015/6/12/there-is-no-epidemic-of-painkiller-overdoses

DEA shortage of pain meds
http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/4/13166594/dea-opioid-epidemic-manufacturer-2017-substance-

AAPM Facts and Figures on Pain
http://www.painmed.org/patientcenter/facts_on_pain.aspx

Chronic Pain Patient Abandoned by Doctor Dies
https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2016/12/22/chronic-pain-patient-abandoned-by-doctor-dies

http://www.pharmaciststeve.com/?p=18350

Chronic health conditions
http://www.nationalhealthcouncil.org/sites/default/files/NHC_Files/Pdf_Files/AboutChronicDisease.pdf

Doctors are cutting opioids, even if it harms patients
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/01/02/doctors-curtail-opioids-but-many-see-harm-pain-patients/z4Ci68TePafcD9AcORs04J/story.html

The War on Drugs has become insane. This is not normal: http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2013/jan/22/pregnant_oklahoma_woman_seeks_me

“Patients in Legitimate Chronic Pain are Paying the Price”: http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2013/01/cost-blaming-doctors-prescription-drug- abuse.html

On Assisted Suicide, Going Beyond ‘Do No Harm’
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/05/opinion/on-assisted-suicide-going-beyond-do-no-harm.html?_r=0

DEA WAR ON Docs
http://www.federaljack.com/is-the-%E2%80%9Cwar-on-drugs%E2%80%9D-as-phony-as-the-%E2%80%9Cwar-on-terror%E2%80%9D/

“How the war on drugs victimizes Rx pain patients”: http://www.sagaciousnewsnetwork.com/how-the-war-on-rx-drugs-victimizes-pain -patients/

Chronic pain epidemiology and its clinical relevance
http://bja.oxfordjournals.org/content/111/1/13.long

On Assisted Suicide, Going Beyond ‘Do No Harm’
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/05/opinion/on-assisted-suicide-going-beyond-do-no-harm.html?_r=0

Chronic health conditions
http://www.nationalhealthcouncil.org/sites/default/files/NHC_Files/Pdf_Files/AboutChronicDisease.pdf

Are CDC Opioid Guidelines Causing More Suicides?
https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2016/5/27/are-cdcs-opioid-guidelines-causing-more-suicides

NASCAR Legend’s Chronic Pain Led to Suicide
http://nationalpainreport.com/nascar-legends-chronic-pain-led-to-suicide-8819960.html

Opioid Malfeasance At The CDC- Guess Who Is Getting Hurt?
http://www.acsh.org/news/2016/12/05/opioid-malfeasance-cdc-guess-who-getting-hurt-10531

Chronic Pain and the Death of a New York Times Journalist

The CDC reports there are 44 deaths per day that involve opioids, but there are more than 105 deaths per day from suicide. An undoubtedly significant (but uncertain) number of those suicides can be attributed to people with severe pain.
http://thepainfultruthbook.com/2016/03/chronic-pain-and-the-death-of-a-new-york-times-journalist/

The Connection Between Chronic Pain and Suicide
http://www.spine-health.com/blog/connection-between-chronic-pain-and-suicide

Chronic Pain and the Risk of Suicide | Psychology Today
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/nation-in-pain/201511/chronic-pain-and-the-risk-suicide

One in 10 suicides linked to chronic illness, study finds
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/aug/23/suicide-chronic-illness-study

Chronic Pain Patient Abandoned by Doctor Dies
https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2016/12/22/chronic-pain-patient-abandoned-by-doctor-dies

http://www.pharmaciststeve.com/?p=18350

The Stress Of Severe Pain: 11% Of Americans Suffer From Chronic Pain,
http://www.medicaldaily.com/stress-severe-pain-11-americans-suffer-chronic-pain-nih-states-347292