By Ed Coghlan.

The developing momentum around a national protest set for September 18 is expanding—and now there’s an effort to identify more doctors who will speak out.

The Don’t Punish Pain Rallies are attracting patients and loved ones to what is now over 90 events in September. Protests will be held at state capitals, Emergency Rooms, hospitals, pain management centers, federal offices like the CDC, FDA, DEA, local pharmacies, parks, and other venues that are suitable to receive media coverage.

But what’s been missing in this protest movement is the voice of the people who treat people in pain.

Claudia Merandi, founder of the Don’t Punish Pain Organization, has organized the Doctors’ Collaborative. It’s a forum where doctors can speak freely about the opioid crisis. She said providers she’s speaking with are often speaking with one another in a confidential setting. But many are fearful to come out publicly for fear of retribution.

Merandi believes that patient and provider need to work together in an effort to find a resolution to the inequities. Merandi has created a flier that patients can bring to their providers should they want to join. Many times, doctors believe there is no way to address the strict prescribing guidelines. Merandi hopes this could assist with that obstacle.

If providers are interested, they can reach Merandi at cmerandi1@cox.net. Providers are invited to attend the protests being held on September 18.

To attend a protest, please visit dontpunishpainrally.com or join the Don’t Punish Pain National FB page. All 50 states now have their own Don’t Punish Pain page to organize effectively within that state. Here’s a list of the rallies. Take a look and see if there’s one nearby. Organizers are stressing there is still an opportunity to create one in your neighborhood.

Merandi pointed out she’s not raising money in this effort.

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