If you are
like me, you are upset by the reporting of the opioid crisis by mainstream
media. I have found myself screaming at the television because of the skewed reporting. Make no mistake, there is an opioid crisis and it breaks my heart, but
how in the world will we ever get those addicted the right treatment if we don’t
look at the problem with eyes wide open? How can we blame and abandon people
living with incurable diseases that keep the body at constant war with
homeostasis because of the disease process that potentiates the disease of
chronic pain?
“We
must have balanced policy—policy that addresses two public health issues—untreated
and inappropriately treated chronic pain and the opioid crisis—without
unintentionally harming one patient population or the other. To get there, we
MUST also have balanced media coverage.”
Maybe you
have read some of my blogs or visited my website
where I share information on my personal opportunities as participant in PAINS
and PAINS-KC. One of the pleasures of my own advocacy is getting to know and
meet with Myra Christopher and the many other advocates and chronic pain citizens
who share my journey. Following is Myra’s voice published in the PAINS Member
Update, October 17, 2017.
By Myra
Christopher
Sunday
night, I watched 60 Minutes on CBS as they interviewed Joe
Rannazzisi, former Deputy Director over Diversion at the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA). Rannazzisi was portrayed as a “whistleblower,” and he
blamed drug distributers, unscrupulous physicians, and members of Congress for
fueling the opioid crisis. The week before, NBC did a week-long series on
the opioid crisis, and the week before PBS did one also. I could go
on—week by week by week—there is not a major news outlet (print, blog,
television, radio, or web) that I could not list as well.
Before
proceeding, I need to make two disclosures:
·
I
have met and worked with Joe Rannazzisi.
·
We
have worked with the DEA closely in the past—with Rannazzisi’s predecessor and
colleagues at the DEA for whom I have great respect.
In 2008,
we worked with the DEA, the National Association of Attorneys General, and the
Federation of State Medical Boards to measure the impact of physicians
diverting prescription pain medication. That study was published in the
journal Pain Medicine (Vol. 9, No.6). I tell readers this to assure
you that PAINS is very concerned about the opioid crisis and respects the role
of law enforcement in protecting the US population from illicit drugs AND
assuring that an adequate supply of medications is available to maintain the
health and well-being of all Americans. My concern is about the irrefutable
lack of media coverage of a related but separate public health issue, i.e.,
inappropriate and untreated chronic pain management.
On Friday,
October 13, PAINS hosted a roundtable in Washington, DC, that included top
officials in the federal government, leading pain care providers, people living
with chronic pain and their advocates, academics and a handful of media
representatives to discuss the need for more and better reporting on the
“chronic pain epidemic” and the unintended consequences that pain sufferers are
experiencing related to federal policy attempting to contain the opioid
epidemic and the media frenzy around it. This is critically important because
it is our view that media shape public perception and public perception leads
to votes, which leads to public health policy – interestingly the foundation of
the argument made by Joe Rannazzisi in his 60 Minutes interview.
·
For
years, PAINS and others advocating for better chronic pain care have called for
“balanced policy.” More than a year ago, PAINS decided to move upstream with
our No Longer Silent initiative
that led to last week’s meeting in DC. We must have balanced policy—policy that
addresses two public health issues—untreated and inappropriately treated
chronic pain and the opioid crisis—without unintentionally harming one patient
population or the other. To get there, we MUST also have balanced media
coverage.
“If it
bleeds, it leads!” is an adage often repeated about media coverage. Granted,
the chronic pain crisis is not as “sexy” as the opioid epidemic. However, both
of these issues are critically important to our society’s health and
well-being.
I will be
honest that there are many days I feel pretty discouraged about ever
accomplishing our goals, then I see a report like this one that appeared on the front page of the
Worcester, Massachusetts paper which highlights the plight of Lauren
Deluca and quotes PAINS Advisory Committee Member, Cindy Steinberg, who also
lives with chronic pain. I encourage you to read this article and ask you to
share it with your friends and colleagues via social media, email, carrier
pigeon!
[Insert from
Telegram.com, Worchester, Massacusetts]
“Ms.
Steinberg noted that legitimately prescribed painkillers weren’t the main
source of the opioid crisis. The majority of fatal overdoses were associated
with illegally obtained substances.”
SHARE
Many with chronic illness denied prescriptions in fight against opioids
by Susan Spencer
We will
ask you to do the same with the report from last week’s No Longer Silent
meeting when it is published in mid to late November. Until then, let me share
just a few “take-aways” from that meeting:
Improving chronic
pain care in America will require culture change. More specifically:
·
Changing
the public narrative about chronic pain as a disease
·
Removing
the stigmatization of those who live with chronic pain and those who care for
them
·
Better
education of physicians, nurses AND patients
·
Reimbursement
models that support comprehensive chronic pain care, not just prescription
opioids, interventional procedures and surgeries
·
Better
data and more research
It’s a
tall order but what one of my colleagues calls “worthy work.”
Comprehensive chronic pain care
will improve the lives of millions of Americans, save billions of dollars and
reduce opioid prescribing.
My conclusion
Will people be left to chew off their limbs like wild animals to escape
pain? Will we continue to read about suicides because of untreated or undertreated pain? Will the public continue to blindly trust those in authority who have a political agenda? Can we make informed decisions based on unfair, unbalanced reporting? Are we ready for the consequences of staying silent? Your voice is only a click away. Please join the PAINS Project initiative...
Additional
Reading:
In healing,,Celeste
"Adversity is
only an obstacle if we fail to see opportunity."
~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~
Celeste Cooper, RN
Author—Patient—Freelance Writer at
Health Central & ProHealth —Advocate
Learn
more about Celeste’s books at her website or find
links here on Celeste's
blog.
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All
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