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In reply to the discussion: Chronic Pain Sufferers are being screwed by the.. [View all]XenaAmazon
(37 posts)You nailed it. They aren't getting their meds from a doctor - they are stealing them.
The studies show that 9/10- opiate addicts DO NOT start out as pain patients. They don't even start out with a legitimate Rx from a doctor. They obtain those opiates to get high, not to treat pain.
If chronic pain patients are not the problem, punishing us might make reactionaries feel good, but it won't do a damned thing to stop this epidemic.
Let me also address the theft issue:
Most pain clinics (if not all) are very strict about requiring that their patients keep their meds locked up. In fact, if meds (or a script) come up stolen, it's tough luck. These won't be replaced: you just do without. It's far easier to prevent your medication from being stolen.
Meds are being stolen from people who are being treated for acute pain: toothe ache, etc. The better action to take would be to make sure that pharmacists inform all patients receiving opiates that such medications MUST be kept under lock and key.
It's not chronic pain patients who create the problem. AND: it's not necessary to kill a mosquito with a sledge hammer. The problem with Americans is that we go overboard and forget that in doing so, real people are hurt.