By Ed Coghlan.

The Trump Administration has not made hearing the stories of chronic pain patients who are using opioids a big part of the conversation of what they call the “opioid crisis”.

But they are giving people a chance to say something.

They’ve launched a website…www.crisisnextdoor.gov…and asking Americans to share their story by uploading a video about how you “overcame addiction, volunteered at a recovery center or worked as a family to help a loved one get on the path to recovery.

They are calling the opioid addiction issue as the “crisis next door” (hence the url for the website).

The website features among others former Fox News Host Eric Bolling who lost his son to opioid overdose and former New York Mets slugger Darryl Strawberry who famously fought addiction during his long major league career.

But chronic pain advocates, like Dr. Terri Lewis, think this is an opportunity to share the “other side” of the story—which is the impact that reduced opioids are having on the chronic pain population.

Let us suggest you take a look at the videos already on the site to get an idea of what to do.

But here are some tips on how to organize and present your thoughts:

“Who Am I?”: Use your name and city and in one sentence describe your or your loved one’s pain condition. “There Are a Lot of Us”: Share that you are one of millions (maybe a hundred million Americans) who suffer from chronic pain. “We Aren’t All Addicts”: In one sentence (or two) describe how you have been using pain medication to combat your pain condition—and how it helps you (work, keep with family obligations etc) “Don’t Forget the Chronic Pain Patient”: Make your pitch—concisely and politely—about making sure the discussion about opioids is expanded to include the millions of chronic pain patients who use opioids responsibly. “Do More for the Pain Patient”: It might be worth making a final pitch for more research and education by the federal government on chronic pain.

The whole video shouldn’t run much more than two-to-three minutes.

Here’s a link to the website. Go to the upper right hand corner where it says “Share My Story”

Let us know if you do it.

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