opinion

Opioid rules will make things worse for pain sufferers: Drew

I have not always agreed with Cory Farley, but he was unfairly attacked in a recent letter to the editor (“Columnist Farley miscasts the opioid crisis as a political issue,” Dec. 20). I am sick of hearing about opioids as though they are the cause of every death and addiction. What about meth, coke, heroin, pot, alcohol or gambling?

More: Opioid crisis, harassment both have serious ambush potential: Cory Farley

Physicians are well-trained in the prescription of drugs and they have protocols in place to monitor the patients. Patients are well-advised by their physician and their pharmacist of the effects of taking any drug. I believe that 99 percent of the physicians are practicing medicine to do no harm. I also believe that most patients are smart enough to follow a doctor’s instructions. I was introduced to Nevada’s controlled substance laws when meeting with my pain management doctor. These rules of the State Medical Board will harm health care. Doctors will be unable to take hardly any new patients because their old patients will require more time. Their staff will also be affected with additional paperwork. The laws will affect each and every one of you, so I urge you to look up AB474.

AB474 rules treat people who are on pain pills for chronic pain as criminals; random drug testing, appointments every two weeks, signing of a contract and more. You are ultimately punishing doctors, their staff and their patients. I am not a criminal simply because I have chronic pain.

Where do you even find a Dr. Rand? You can’t just walk into a doctor’s office and ask for pain pills. If it is your first visit, they generally look at physical therapy and other options first. Perhaps if you end up in the emergency room, you will receive a prescription, but they keep careful track of your visits: how often, the reason, what was prescribed.

I’ve had numerous surgeries, including spine fusion, and now live with ongoing pain each day, depending on my level of activity. I see a pain management specialist and have had a psychiatric consult before receiving ongoing pain treatment. I’m not an idiot; I take opioids as my physician has prescribed. I keep track of how many pills I take.

Like Cory Farley, I most certainly don’t want some lawmaker who may have never experienced pain deciding on how skilled physicians should practice medicine, but this is exactly what has happened. To hell with other addiction problems rampant in our community; take on the doctor’s offices and their patients, that’s where the real addicts are.

Our lawmakers are penalizing the majority because of the stupidity of the few. You will make it more difficult for people in pain, those of us you see with walkers or canes, in wheelchairs or with prosthesis, as well as the elderly. When you live with a lot of pain, one more doctor’s appointment every two weeks is hard.

I can speak firsthand regarding this because of the pain I have had to suffer and seen my elderly mom suffer. I have also experienced meth, alcohol and gambling addictions firsthand with friends and relatives. Please don’t let the pendulum swing completely from one side to the other. Find a decent compromise that will work for everyone.

Debra Rae Drew is a Reno resident.