Dr. Andrew Kolodny: wants all opiates taken off the market ?

The FDA Is Going After an Opioid Painkiller for the First Time

www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/06/the-fda-is-going-after-an-opioid-painkiller-for-the-first-time/

Last Thursday, for the first time in history, the Food and Drug Administration asked a pharmaceutical company to take an opioid painkiller off the market. The agency found that the benefits of the medication, Opana ER, were outweighed by its risks: It is frequently snorted and injected, and linked to HIV outbreaks, the spread of hepatitis C, and a blood clotting disorder called thrombotic microangiopathy.

“We are facing an opioid epidemic—a public health crisis, and we must take all necessary steps to reduce the scope of opioid misuse and abuse,” said FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb in a statement. “We will continue to take regulatory steps when we see situations where an opioid product’s risks outweigh its benefits, not only for its intended patient population but also in regard to its potential for misuse and abuse,” said Gottlieb.

The FDA’s request may indicate that the commissioner, accused of cozy relationships with pharmaceutical companies, is taking a tough stance on painkiller prescribing, which has laid the foundation for today’s soaring overdose epidemic. “I am pleased, but not because I think that this one move by itself will have much impact,” says Dr. Andrew Kolodny, who researches opioid policy at Brandeis University and directs Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing.

“I’m hopeful that this signals a change at FDA—and that Opana might be just the first opioid that they’ll consider taking off the market. It’s too soon to tell.”

Opana ER (for extended release) was created by Endo Pharmaceuticals and approved by the FDA in 2006. After finding that drug users crushed and snorted the drug, taking in 12 hours worth of medication instantaneously, Endo introduced a reformulated version in 2012, which had a hard shell that Endo claimed made the drug more difficult to abuse. This decision may have been motivated by more than just public safety—as NPR noted, Endo faced loss of patent protection without a reformulation. But the FDA found that the reformulation made abuse more likely than the former version: instead of snorting it, users took to injecting it—leading to a cluster of thrombotic microangiopathy deaths in Tennessee in 2012 and Indiana’s HIV outbreak in 2014 and 2015.

The FDA’s decision doesn’t necessarily indicate that Opana ER is more abusable than other opioid painkillers still on the market, but rather that it is riskier than the previous (now generic) version. In fact, Opana ER is chemically similar to a number of other painkillers, notes Kolodny. High dosage painkiller pills in particular are easily abused: Without tolerance to opioids, experimenting with one 80-milligram OxyContin pill or Subsys prescription fentanyl spray could cause an overdose. Critics worry that even “abuse-deterrent” versions of painkillers, which typically are harder to crush or dissolve and are marketed as a safe alternative to other opioids, are still abusable. “Abuse-deterrent formulations are no less addictive and no less effective and they are mostly going to take our eye off the ball,” says Dr. Caleb Alexander, co-director of Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Drug Safety and Effectiveness. If you are dealing with opioid addiction, you can look into Residential Addiction Care Facilities for help.

Whether or not Endo will comply remains to be seen; the company is “evaluating the full range of potential options as we determine the appropriate path forward,” according to a prepared statement. Since last Thursday’s announcement, its stock price has plummeted by nearly 20 percent. If Endo doesn’t pull its product, the FDA “intends to take steps to formally require its removal by withdrawing approval,” according to a press release.

124 Responses

  1. Dr K was Chief Medical Officer at Phoenix House. He encountered some of the most manipulative con artists known to man: an addict so deep in their addiction, they have no boundaries. Lifetime junkies, 90% starting with pot/alcohol in teens, most likely from a gene pool rife with addiction. So naturally when rejoining “normal” society he saw junkies EVERYWHERE. And he saw DOLLA BILLS!!

    He is not a practicing psychiatrist (that I found), and when he was a shrink at Maimonides, he got a 2/5 in “answering questions, clarity, amount of time w/ patient and reputation” . Healthgrades clicked him in at a 1.3 put of 5….Soooo, the old cliche about those that can, do it. Those that CAN’T, TEACH or act as co-director of PROP.
    What a scourge!!

  2. After one evening of various people attacking Killer Kolodny on Twitter his friends started defending him saying that people are jealous of his greatness. This is what feeds his ego and he loves it. His cult followers have drank the koolaid and continue to, including the FDA.

  3. This piece of crap has turned off comments to this post so he doesn’t see what we write here. He refuses to admit that what he did has caused THOUSANDS of suicides. He is still pulling the wool over people’s eyes who lost someone to heroin or fent. HE IS A KILLER!!!!

    • He should be charged w/murder,torture and genocide,,,jmo,,,in my book,,,he is in the same league as hitler,,,for his arrogance truly allows him to think has the right to decide for all of mankind how much FORCED PHYSICAL PAIN A HUMANBEING IS TO FORCIBLE ENDURE,, that is the definition of torture,torture in the healthcare setting,,,10 of thee worse atrocities of humans have been done by psychiatrist,,,i say he is ###11,,,,,he should be brought up on charges of murder,,,jmho,,maryw

  4. WHY ISN’T ANYONE TELLING THE TRUTH? MY DAUGHTER IS A DEATH SCENE INVESTIGATOR FOR THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE AND TOLD ME THE DEATHS ARE FROM ILLEGAL OPIATES COMING IN THROUGH MEXICO NOT LEGAL PRESCRIPTIONS.

    FOLKS YOU’D BEST ENLIGHTEN YOUR CONGRESSMEN AND DEMAND THE BORDER WALL BEFORE THESE JACKASSES TAKE EVERY LAST BIT OF RELIEF PAIN PATIENTS HAVE.

  5. Do you realize that you have started The American Era of Suicides / from. Patients in so much pain ! The drugs you refer in much of this article were street drugs. You should also. Accept that you have opened the door for more Cartel to bring more illegal drugs to our country ! Causing more death & violent crime! Focusing on the problem now. Will take years of. Fighting n recovery ! Doctors who treat patients with opiate pain relief , generally because they tried all options ! Myself. I’m allergic to most medications! Antidepressants the leading drug sales now is more addicting n more harmful to patients ! This is what you have. Caused ! I wonder how you can sleep at night ! To bad you could not hear all the screams n cries of all patients !

  6. Damn fools are not helping anyone!!!! Take away all pain meds and everyone will have no choices except turn TO the streets and heroin, or suicide. Which do you think everyone will do? They say they are protecting people from addiction and death, but they will only increase heroin abuse and suicide. I guess those are better ideas? You flippin IDIOTS! You’re not only STUPID, but you’re murderers!!!! You all should be PROSECUTED FOR MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE!

  7. U think this will help it won’t! I have used legal prescription drugs for 20 years and if u take these meds from me I will have no reason to go on! I can’t walk or be half normal without them. I can promise u crime will go up and pharmacies will have to have armed guards at the door. It will make me a desperate person I will do what I have to so I can survive. I maybe addicted but I’m alive the doctors put me on these meds i didn’t go out and do it myself! The government already took one of my meds away and now tell me I can’t only have a certain dose! Keep pushing the American people and things will happen

  8. Isn’t it also a violation of HIPPA laws? How ca you (Kolodny) be capable of deciding what dosages are suitable for one person’s pain , as if a “one size fits all” attitude where correct? Do we also do the same with antibiotics. How about insulin. Or Chemo drugs. No. Your agenda can ONLY be for YOUR benefit. It certainly is not to benefit patients! You claim you are trying to save lives from addiction, yet those very people who are being denied what they need to control their severe pain, are the ones who are turning to the STREETS to heroin out of sheer desperation, or suicide since those are the only options left to them!!! That sir, is on YOU!!! Congratulations!!!!!

  9. Now I’ve seen a lot of commercials with these same warnings, yet they Are still on the market, because it is decided that the benefit out ways the risk, WHY IS THIS ANY DIFFERENT, STOP CONTROLLING OUR MEDICAL CHOICES, it’s not legal what your doing, and the lives of the suicides the CDC and this is causing will be on their hands and need to be tried in court for it, it is ILLEGAL to cause harm to another person intenially, by your own choices.

  10. And what ABOUT those NOT spoken of suicides? Don’t those people matter. They keep talking about addiction, addiction, addiction. They are doing all this to save people from addiction, and therefore save lives. But if those same lives are snuffed out by suicide due to uncontrolled, unrelenting, intolerable pain, WHO have they saved? DEath from opioids or addiction is unacceptable. Agreed. But death by suicide IS acceptable? And not spoken of. Sounds like a HUGE scam to me. In my OPINION of course!

    • IT IS A SCAM!!!! the government is up to something,,using our monies for this rues,,,,,,jmo,,,their going to get opiates illegal,,then bring in these expensive good for nothing medicine that don’t do anything..I still am very curious about this meeting in thee Oliver Wendal Holmes building,,,I mean u don’t use language like,,,”this is a historic event,” if it wasn’t all pre-planned,,,maryw

      • I couldn’t agree more! Something we don’t know about is going on! Sadly, in the meantime, people are still suffering inhumanely and committing suicide. These are like the dark ages for God’s sake!

        • Yes, something is happening, the so called crisis , take away rx, cop got to streets/black market , $$ then how many get fent and od? Silent genocide, cull the herd of diseased , sick , unable to work, so more for young healthy rich, no more as to put out and take money away from them as well as food etc. Gmo an accident? Hmm. When somebody post this stuff, thought, hmm, naw. Agenda 2030 folks, research. Yup, really looking out 4 us po folks.

  11. Kolodny has destroyed pain management as we know it. Suicides are RAMPANT thanks to HIS pushing anti-opioid rederick bullshit to serve his own greedy agenda. MORE patients denied life saving pain medication, MORE people on Suboxone, and MORE people locked up in his rehab clinics.. In the opinion of MANY pain patients, he is a MURDER! It happens to be MY opinion also! And he’s pushing even harder now! The term “Killer Kolodny” seems apt!

  12. Riiight because that’s all you hear in the news, all the Opana ODs, or all the addicts looking to score some Opana. This is really laughable to be honest. Is our government really this far removed from reality? No one is on the streets looking for their next fix of Opana for two reasons, one it is and has been rarely prescribed (most people have never even heard of it) and two it would be about 5x the price of heroin and probably about 5x less potent. No addict is paying more for less for a rarely heard of substance, no matter how hard the propaganda tries to shove this idea down our throats. Please do yourselves a huge favor and go hang out on the streets for a few days so you can see reality more clearly and hopefully come up with a real plan that will actually HELP people in addiction. I’ll give you a headstart clue – addiction is NOT the result of any one substance, it is a multifaceted disease that requires a multifaceted approach that does NOT include jail or prohibition, history has shown us that neither works. Open your minds and ears and listen to what history and current TRUE addiction experts say, you know, experts like Dr. Carl Hart.

  13. I’m also more than a little suspicious about the DEAs self serving role and their need to remain relevant in the era of legalized MJ and the failed War on Drugs.

    Everyone from the religious fanatics and those opportunistic medical professionals waiting to cash in because the cost of billable procedures are much more profitable than writing rx’s for what are known to be reliable, effective treatments.

  14. Where is the outrage for ALCOHOL deaths which far out number opioid deaths by hundreds of thousands? ALCOHOL which is a substance with no LEGITIMATE use other than recreational use to alter human perception.

    ALCOHOL ABUSE which causes enormous human pain and suffering to those who suffer from effects of ALCOHOL abuse? What about societal cost of treating diseases of the body as a result ALCOHOL abuse and the long term diseases, suffering AND DEATH?

    With all the concern these fanatics profess to have for the suffering caused by Opioid addiction where is the concern and outrage for the pain, suffering and death that result from ALCOHOL ABUSE?

    I find the lack of concern for ALCOHOL ABUSE CONERNING, and dishonest.

  15. If someone posts the petition here, I will spread it throughout my groups and have my people spread it over the internet. THIS sure isn’t enough exposure. Lets spread it everywhere!!!!

  16. GREAT post Candi!

  17. Just 1 question Candi,,,,my CPP is due to medical errors,,,does that mean I should not be allowed opiate MEDICINE???my point,,,,,anyone ,,,who has physical pain as a adult,,,,should be allowed access to effective medical care via opiate MEDICINE that effectively lessens physical pain,,,If we start singleing out indivuduals ,,adult individuals,,,as to ,”who,,or what,” gets opiate medicine,,,,we are no better then the government regulations??,,I mean its not about money,,right??for I use to go 1nce a year before dea regulations now FORCE us to go 12 or,4 x’s a year,,but it use to cost me 250 bucks a year,,,the insurance company nothing,,Soo even w/CPP,, it does not have to be expensive,,,,,,,jmo,,,,its about population control and literally killing,,genocide of the medically ill,,jmo,,,maryw

    • But they make us go thru all these useless hoops before we get our medications or so we can get our medications . Pt, injections, etc…
      These Government agencies need to stay our of our physicians offices. .. let them treat us humanely and adequately with our medications and stop descriminating against us…

    • I have to go monthly to my new pm dr, in WI, .mary w I think u misunderstood my statement.

      • My guy is out of West Allis,,,i live 25 miles North of the Dells,,geez,,,talk about f—- back pain driving 7 hours round trip,,,,I guess I must of,,misunderstood something??Medical errors have now caused a desease process on me,,,,and u r correct,,,15 years ago,,this test,,mayo,,that injection etc,,,and THANK GOD,,, it was 15 years ago,,,I wasn’t called out by Aetna,,but once they ,”settled,,” on paper a diagnoses,,,,I literally went 1nce a year,X10 YEARS,,,250 bucks,,my deductible at that time,,,Now,,,u know now,,,my bills ,,my credit is destroyed,,,from medical bills,and a 6,000 out of pocket,,,,,,my point is,,everyone,ADULTS should have access to MEDICINE,OPIATES,,,, if it works for the physical pain,,,,none of this restriction crap,,,,the doctor goes to school for 12 freaken years,,,it should of stayed w/the doctors decision,,,not the government or a psychopathic shrink,KLONDYN!!!MARYW

      • U AND I NEED TO HOOK UP CANDI,,,,THE MORE WISCONSIN CPP’S I CAN GET ON THIS APPEAL TO THE ACLU,,,THE BETTER CHANCE THEY’LL TAKE IT!!!!!maryw

  18. This war on “opioids” is actually a war on chronic incurable diseases. A war on chronic pain disease patients who benefit from opioid medications. Medications that enable millions of Americans relief of chronic debilitating pain associated with these diseases.
    100 million Americans have one or more chronic incurable pain Disease. As the CDC, DEA, FDA, Medicaid and Medicare, and numerous other government agencies, are blaming Doctors for the over prescribing of opioid medication. NOBODY, is looking at or reading the statistics from chronic pain disease patients. How about NOT addressing these drugs as dangerous and addictive. When all else fails: physical therapy, exercise, over the counter medications and numerous injections etc, we chronic pain disease patients, are left with one option to help us cope, opioid pain medication. Lets address this medication as lifesaving and medically necessary for the million of Americans with chronic diseases. Chronic pain is a disease. Chronic pain disease patients are now the epidemic. The addiction rate of chronic pain disease patients is .02-.6 %. We do not misuse or abuse our medications.
    No other disease medication is scrutinized. We, as patients, are being denied, dismissed, overlooked and discriminated against, by our physicians, due to all the scrutiny associated with treating chronic pain disease with opioid medications. Our Dr’s are afraid to treat us humanely and adequately. We have a disease that medication is readily accessible to us and we are being denied. We, pain patients, are being discriminated against, due to people who abuse illegal heroin, illegal fentanyl and/or misuse opioid medication and place the blame on everyone but themselves. This is a direct hunt for Doctors who prescribe life saving medication, for pain disease patients, that benefit from them. We have our privacy invaded, we no longer are able to have doctor/patient confidentiality. We now have insurance agencies, pharmacists, and other government agencies in our physicians offices. Monitoring and policing our physicians.
    Though the statistics show a reduction in, medically needed, opioid medications, death rates of overdoses from illegal opioids is rising. This system and laws are obviously not working.
    The specific causes of deaths also needs to be closely investigated. The opioid in the person’s system needs to be specified. Was it an illegal opioid, was it opioid medication specifically for that person, was there other drugs or alcohol involved. All these questions need answers.
    We have a chronic disease. We want to be able to take care of our homes, our children, our selves, as much as possible, but without access to these life saving medications, we are unable to do so. We want to live, not just exist in pain 24/7.
    We need the government agencies to look at the real statistics, not the hand picked. These agencies are not physicians. They are trying to doctor us, patients, without a medical license. They are also trying to police our physicians. This is a war on a disease, medications, physicians and patients.
    The statistics do not differentiate what opioid drug attribute to a fatal overdose or misuse of medication. Was is an illegal drug, heroin, illegal fentanyl, carfentynal, was that person’s legitimate medication? All these questions need answers. The information needs to be addressed.
    We need help. All the headlines, topics and stories on how opioids are bad and how people are abusing, misusing, overdosing, becoming addicted or dying from them. We need to look at the good they do and how they help our disease of chronic pain and the million of Americans who use them for some relief.
    The government needs to put the focus on illegal drugs coming into, being manufactured and distributed in this country, illegal fentanyl, illegal heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and all other ILLEGAL DRUGS. People who abuse and misuse medication, not prescribed to them, illegal drugs, alcohol, sex, whatever it may be, will always find a way. Put the focus on that. Not the legally and medically necessary medications we patients need. We chronic pain disease patients need help, but we are helpless due to the government and government agencies. There is stigma, scrutiny and discrimination against us due to a category of medications we desperately need and benefit from.

  19. Still no response from Kolodny? He’s afraid of the truth and the loss of his potential $$$, and obviously doesn’t give a damn about the health and well-being of Americans. Too much blood on your hands to make a keyboard work, Mr. Kolodny?

    • never did give a dam about human life,,,,,,,only his pocket book,,,,,,smart son of bitch though,,,he bamboozelled the federal government,,,who had the dea who was MORE then willing to oblidge,,,,[sorry no right click for spell check],,,,,,maryw

  20. I would only have one thing to say to Kolodny, “Physician heal thyself.”

  21. Since they are counting the deaths of heroin and other street drugs in their death tolls, since they caused the crisis and now want mega bucks to fix it shows the Corporate Drug Cartel is what’s in crisis, not the patients of chronic pain! Opium has been around since before man!

  22. Thee ,”involuntary commitment,,” if you are labeled opiate dependent,,,,is the state of wisconsin,,,,maryw

  23. Everyone, Morgan & Morgan are taking phone calls for a class action. I know, it will take a long time, but get this before a Judge and let’s see what happens. https://www.pharmaciststeve.com/?p=20906

  24. The success rate for these rehab centers is around 5 percent from the statistics I have seen and yet the media DOES NOT report this. There is an article in the Psychology Today, June 2017, issue discussing the One Hit cure for addiction. Many many studies have been done and are reported on in this article. The drugs mentioned include Ibogaine and LSD to name two. Apparently these drugs work, yet are never reported in media. Apparently, the co-founder of AA, Bill Wilson, advocated for LSD to be used in AA’s program initially, but the organization’s leadership strenuously objected and so it was not used. Considering the MISERABLE failure rate of these “rehab” clinics, it begs the question why these medicines are not being used nor is media reporting on this. I suspect the rehab clinics want “repeat” business. FOLLIW THE MONEY.

    • exactly,,the revolveing door sytem,,,just like the prisons he was director of,,demanding any prisoner who was arrested for ANY drug crime,,,must go to rehab,m,,,,,,HE IS A SNAkE OIL SALESMEN,,, and the government bought it ,,hook,line and sinker!!!!!!!maryrw

  25. You want to keep opioids legal, Andrew Kolodmy? Is that the same as wanting chronic-pain sufferers to have access to opioids? If so, then speak up and support the chronic-pain population. We represent a Wikipedia of vital information you have ignored. Don’t correct us on our very clear understanding of your actions and purposes, Andrew. Instead, listen to us and get to know our concerns. Or are you interested in having opioids accessible ONLY to addicts, so they can occasionally make use of detox centers? You know about detox centers, Andrew, like the type of entrepreneurial project you have developed?
    If you need someone’s permission before you speak out about inconvenient truth, I hereby grant you permission to use my own experience as an example. For 22 years, I have used prescription opioids to successfully manage a chronic pain disease. I was always monitored by physicians, and I did not show ANY signs of addiction, or even tolerance. I had blood tests every six months, and there was no damage done to any of my major organs or physiological systems. Go ahead, Andrew, speak up about that.
    It’s unfortunate for me and all responsible chronic-pain sufferers that we don’t constitute a target market for taxpayer-supported detox centers. Hum, do you plan to tap into public health-care dollars to pay for those centers you have created, Andrew?
    There are lots, and lots of chronic-pain sufferers who will not be around to keep paying taxes if you continue to join forces with the rest of your bizarre colleagues and kill us off. The lives of people who suffer from chronic pain are destroyed if they don’t have access to pain relief. Do you think that when we commit suicide in desperation, we will have provided that funds from our estates be donated to your detox centers? Don’t hold your breath waiting for posthumous funding from us, Andrew. (On second thought, go ahead and hold your breath…indefinitely.)
    It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for people with chronic pain to exercise sufficiently to achieve an optimum state of wellness. What type of degenerative effects will that have on their bodies? They may die prematurely of other conditions that are exacerbated by lack of physical activity, and they will die slowly and miserably. Surely, Andrew, you are not complicit in genocide, are you?
    In accordance with your current methods, if there’s a way for addicts to abuse insulin, they will be welcomed into your detox enterprise, Andrew. Then, for some incomprehensible reason, insulin will be withheld from responsible diabetics who don’t abuse the drug. Astonishing!

    • Couldn’t agree w/u more,,,but calling a spade a spade,,he’s a crook,/MADMAN,,,and makes his living off of killing the medically ill w/PERMANANT long term medical illness/affliction that are physical painful,,,,,Yea Andy,,,good luck,,,when your time comes,,,,u might even get replace the devil himself,,
      To all,,,u know supposedly this guy,,”’andy” is a shrink,right??Sooo any shrink would know,,u take away medicine that effectively lessens physical pain,,causeing that person to endure that physical pain,,,their minds,,the psychological status will goo nuts,,forced to endure that physical pain,,,Andy knew this 100%%,,the sicklo,,,,,thus he knew u take away the pain medicine,,any NORMAL PERSON FORCED TO ENDURE THAT PHYSICAL PAIN WILL DO 2 THINGS,,,DIE,,or ,GO NUTS,,FROM FORCED ENDUREMENT OF PHYSICAL PAIN,,,HE [ANDREW KLONDYN]IS A SHRINK,,,,,,HE KNEW THIS PEOPLE!!!!!WHAT KIND OF ,”THING”’ KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING WILL DESTRIOY ANOTHER PERSON LIFE,,AND DOES IT ANYWAYS???,,,,,,,A SEVERLY MENTALLY DERANGE INDIVIDUAL DOES THAT KIND OF THING,,,AGAIN I THINK THE LEGAL TERM IS SOCIAL PSYCHOPATH,,,, maryw

  26. Sounds like someone whos never suffered a day of pain in his life, I truly don’t believe that I bet he is the first one line when he is hurting just another hypocrit blow hard Doctor getting his name out there.

    • how much u wanna bet,,those senators that got shot on that baseball field are all getting opiaTe MEDICINE FOR THEIR PAIN!!!!,,,u know,,my mother-in-law,,,who’s husband worked for the government w/ a very high ,”G”’ CLEARANCE,,…….SHE DOES NOT PAY A DIME FOR HER INSURANCE,,NOR,,,DOES SHE EVER,,EVER,,,PAY A DEDUCTABLE,OUT OF POCKET OR MONTHLY PREMIUM,,,,the name of the insurance for all federal employee I not sure,, its starts w/Federal ???????,,insurance ,,but,,,if they have such great insurance we should all have the same insurance federal employees have!!!!!!!!!!!!!MARYW

  27. I am, along with the 100 millions of other Americans, are on the other end of opioids. I am one of these 100 million Americans who have a chronic incurable pain disease. As the CDC, DEA and Medicaid and Medicare, and numerous other government agencies, are blaming Doctors for the over prescribing of medication, NOBODY, is looking at or reading the statistics from chronic pain disease patients. How about NOT addressing these drugs as dangerous and addictive. Let’s look at them as lifesaving and medically necessary for the million of Americans with a chronic disease? Chronic pain is a disease. Chronic pain disease patients are now the epidemic. The addiction rate of chronic pain disease patients is .02-.6 %. We do not abuse our medications.
    No other disease medication is scrutinized. We, as patients, are being denied, dismissed, overlooked and discriminated against, by our physicians, due to all the scrutiny associated with treating chronic pain disease. Our Dr’s are afraid to treat us humanely and adequately. We have a disease that medication is readily accessible to us and we are being denied. We, pain patients, are being discriminated against, due to people who have use illegal heroin, illegal fentanyl and place the blame on everyone but themselves. This is a witch hunt for Doctors who prescribe life saving medication for pain disease patients who benefit from this medication.
    We have a chronic disease. We want to be able to take care of our homes, our children, our selves, as much as possible, but without access to these life saving medications, we are unable to do so. We want to live not just exist in pain 24/7.
    We need the government agencies to look at the real statistics, not the hand picked. These agencies are not physicians. They are trying to doctor us patients without a medical license. They are also trying to police our physicians. This is a war on a disease for all chronic pain.
    We need help. All the headlines, topics and stories on how opioids are bad and how people are abusing and dying from them, let’s look at the good they do and how they help our disease of chronic pain and the million of Americans who use/need them to relieve pain.
    The government needs to put the focus on illegal drugs coming into and being manufactured in this country, illegal fentanyl, illegal heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and all other ILLEGAL DRUGS. Not the legally and medically necessary medications we patients need.

    • Well stated again Candi… I wrote another comment below but don’t see where there is the “post comment” so not sure it will post. what is with this page can’t post a comment?

  28. The government has no business in my doctors office. You need to stop taking things away until you implement the national pain strategy to HELP those of us in pain and STOP cutting funding for rare diseases. Let’s fix the problem not create a genocide.

    We need better tracking first and foremost!! These lies the media has come out with created this false frenzy. More people die from alcohol, tobacco, car accidents and medical procedures gone wrong than Physcian prescribed pharmacy purchased opioids.

    A- where did the drug come from
    1- Street
    2- Pharmacy/ Dr who Prescribed

    B-history of patient
    1- documented addict or not

    C: reasoning
    1- suicide/intentionally
    2- to get a high/intentionally (knowingly)
    3- accidental polypharmacy
    4- systemic complication

    You must stop lumping tainted opioids with pharmacy bought. These are two totally different situations. Most chronic pain patients take medication responsibly and just to ease the pain. People with addiction take to get high plain and simple.

    If we don’t treat those with addiction it will never ever stop!!!

    Pain patients have been mistreated, under treated and made out to be the bad person. I never asked for 8 rare diseases and two pages of conditions that continue to grow because I have a progressive diseases. Cancer is not the only disease that requires strong pain medication. Stop putting all pain patients into a box and cancer patients in a separate box. We ALL deserve quality of life and to live with the least amount of pain available within reason.

    Decisions are being made without even ONE TIME letting the “other side” speak. We deserve the right to our own townhall meeting. The pendulum has swung way to far in the other direction and still addicts and deaths are rising. Open your eyes!!

    Stop hurting us #patientsnotaddicts
    We have rights to treatments too! And we need more investigational treatments covered by insurance!!

  29. Chronic pain patients are not addicts & need their pain medication to function. I wish this doctor could live with my pain for an hour. I don’t think he would last a full day. I suffer from the pain from arachnoid scarring (arachnoiditus).

  30. Walker has 2 bills on his desk to sign,,this was this am,,it past our house 30 to 1,,,to now forcible lock up in a psych-ward any deemed an ,”addict,” ,,,,,Soo klondyn has now deem’d all of us in physical pain who use MEDICINE to lessen that physical pain due to medical afflictions,,klondyn has now deemed us alllll addicts,,,,guess what can happen to all of us if u visit or live in the state of Wisconsin?They ,,the government of Wisconsin can now forcible lock u up on a psych ward AGAINST YOUR FREE WILL AS A ADULT HUMAN BEING,,ITS CALLED ,”INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT,”” courtesy of the prop/klondyn and all the ,”filler up warehouse of the days old,,,Pennhurst,,Trans Alleghany lunatic asylum are now all opening for business from the 1800’s,,,,,,,,if u are a adult w/ a paiful medical afflication and need medicine,,,maryw

  31. KILLER KOLODNY sounds VERY fitting! YOU Sir, are a killer IMO!

    • DITTO,,Michael,, the scarey thing is,,he does not even have the capacity to see/recgonize the true reality of harm,,he has caused,,,,not to mention all on tax payers dime,,but id give all my tax dollars to have all our deceases’ lives back and ours,,,,maryw

  32. Hey warriors check this link out, here’s aa very inter sting article regarding Kolodnys Phoenix House and the abuse that went on there.The many patients that walked thru those doors were high the whole time there, understaffing, people being stabbed, your detox ctrs sound like a great place Killer Kolodny!! You are a huge disgrace! I honestly don’t know how you look at yourself and are proud of what you see, then again when one is a psycho such as yourself , torturing innocent people brings you much delight…sicko!!

    https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Finvestigates%2Fspecial-report%2Fusa-rehab-phoenixhouse%2F&h=ATOdSVqwc4aj0CP8YqCIHtSAkusyjb99vUP9F6Rtj8ppoqQISrOJAYA7fzV-9WMGLWBl8VnE4R0StL5wA3KHyr8UsuiRBKQ8ms5DVem0-MN-L6bWsli0kF90BvvzF0L83vs

    • Already at wits end. Medicaid has stopped paying for medication. Poor people are not important. But I keep waking up to the same insanity.

  33. This pain medication ban is now starting to hit Wall Street investors in the wallet, maybe now someone will care?!

    Usually these calls have days to week notices, this one had two hours.

    Call Date: Jun 15, 2017
    Call Time: 01:30 PM EDT **Wall Street Time**

    Can’t post a link as that will wait for moderator approval and might not get to it in time. 🙁

    Look for “An Overview of the Chronic Pain Landscape and Regulatory Environment- Where does DepoMed’s NUCYNTA (tapentadol) fit in?” at: slingshotinsights DOT com/projects/500

    “EXPERT CALL AT 1:30pm ET Today [June 15th 2017]

    An Overview of the Chronic Pain Landscape and Regulatory Environment- Where does DepoMed’s NUCYNTA (tapentadol) fit in?

    Why Investors Should Care:

    With the FDA pulling Endo’s Opana, now is the time to speak to an expert to understand the impact on the market.

    On DepoMed’s May 9th earnings call, management provided an update on sales force alignment and attempts to improve NUCYNTA sales.

    We’re building on our last call to get another expert’s view on the general headwinds opioids are seeing in the market as well as where NUCYNTA fits in this landscape.

    The expert is an experienced anesthesiologist who has prescribed NUCYNTA to 10 patients and has an active clinical practice in pain management.”

  34. The ONLY thing this will do, is cause a massive explosion of MORE people turning towards Heroin and suicide. You will be committing MURDER!!! Use you BRAIN for a change!

  35. to allll,,,contact your aclu’s,,,,TODAY,,,not tomorrow,,,today!!!,,I HAVE DONE EXACTLLY THAT,, for my personal case is perfect as are 10,000 other cppps cases,,for why this forced commitment of adults in physical pain against their will,,is against every law on the books,,,,maryw

  36. To all,,with klondyn labelling all CPP ,”addicts””,,’my state of Wisconsin just past a law,,,that all,”addicts,” can be locked up involuntarily in psych-wards against their will,,for having physical pain,,,,,,,,,,,,,,maryw

  37. Dr Kolodny is not the only doctor with this problem:

    ===
    Dr Myles Gart wrote a piece entitled “Pain is not the fifth vital sign” Medical Economics on May 20th, 2017. http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/pain-not-fifth-vital-sign

    I do not believe Dr Gart has any experience with Chronic Pain. This is my Letter to the Editor response to Dr Gart:

    “… First and foremost, we must bury the claim of pain being the fifth vital sign and replace it with a 21st Century pain assessment tool that incorporates objective evidence and measures of pain. …”

    Dr Gart, at this moment are you hungry? In your lifetime have you ever been hungry? Hunger is a type of pain. Did you treat that pain by consuming a substance?

    Please correct me if I am wrong. To my knowledge there is no objective test, no simple Pain Meter, that will show me that you are hungry. Yes we could look at enzymes and such. Will that truly tell me just how hungry you are objectively?

    If there is no objective test for a pain as simple as hunger, that each of us experience most every day, what hope does a person in Chronic Pain have?

    In Ohio the Governor is now practicing medicine by decreeing that there can be no more than seven days of opiate pain medication. Perhaps he should discuss that with the person that was hit by a train and survived with most every bone broken.

    My wife Karen died of suicide to stop the pain she experienced for over My wife Karen *HUNG HERSELF* to stop the pain she experienced for over 20 years, due to the failure of the Medical Establishment as a whole. THIS IS THE REALITY OF Chronic Pain.

    “Karen’s Journal of CSF Leak Headaches and Chronic Pain: How Intracranial Hypotension and the Fluoroquinolone Levaquin (Levofloxacin) Killed Me”

    is now required reading at Duke School of Medicine to educate future Neurologists about the realities of Chronic Pain.

    A local reporter wrote in a Cover Story:

    “Karen’s first-hand account of her illness gave an honest, heart-wrenching depiction of what it is like to live with debilitating pain day-to-day.” — kpaddock DOT org [I don’t know if this site allows links in the comments.]

    May I humbly suggest you read it.

    kpaddock DOT com/book

    kpaddock DOT com/fq for FDA links on the antibiotic issue.

    In book form it has been edited by a medical doctor that has the same condition has Karen had. When bought through the Spinal CSF Leak Foundation 100% of the royalties go to them, to support them, just in case anyone things I’m posting this to promote the book. The earliest draft of the book is found on kpaddock DOT com for free.

    I do not know what motivated you to write your article. I do know from it that far more time needs to be spent with people in Chronic Pain, to understand the realities of their life.

    When a person in Chronic Pain that has been taking opiate pain medication under a competent doctors supervision for ten years, is able to function, take care of their family, hold a job, is without warning told then can not have it any more, “tough luck”. What are they to do? They resort to street drugs and become the very victims this currently policy is trying to prevent.

    People in Chronic Pain have typically already tried multiple rounds of physical therapy, bio-feedback, meditation, exercise and the list goes on, with no relief from the pain. What are they to do?

    Not having Chronic Pain myself, I will never claim to understand it. I did watch my wife suffer with it for 20+ years. What exactly is the agenda here? None of us such as Advocates like myself nor the sufferers have figured this out yet. Can anyone please explain? To us it appears as an attack on the most venerable.

    This is one of the many comments I received about your article: “…Chronic problems frustrate doctors and they blame the patient rather than look at themselves. …” or support research to find real solutions to Chronic Pain. No one chooses to live with Chronic Pain each and every moment of their lives.

    Ad Hominem attack in 3…2…1
    ===

    Feel free to share that on your page or timeline if you think it will help educate anyone about the realities of Chronic Pain.

  38. There is a reason they call you Killer Kolodny! What you, the CDC and the DEA are doing is torture, a very clear violation of our civil rights. The CDC openly admitted to using fictitious, unscientific data when they wrote the guidelines, yet nothing was done about it. A pill does not cause addiction, its merely a symptom of a much larger issue. An addict will be an addict even if you took every single opioid medication off the market. These people are dying from Heroin and illicit Fentanyl, NOT my medications! I don’t know one single chronic pain patient who would give away or sell even one pill to someone else. The statistics say that less than 1% of people with legitimate chronic pain will EVER become addicted to their medications. Thousands upon thousands of chronic pain patients are turning to illegal drugs or suicide to end the relentless agony they are forced to endure because of the bogus epidemic you started! Not one thing has been done to stop the flow of Heroin and illicit Fentanyl from coming in for China and Mexico. These people are overdosing from illegal use of drugs, not from legitimate prescriptions. I am a 44 year old mother of two children with Idiopathic Chronic Pancreatitis and I am now being forced to suffer in agony every single day, unable to even get out of bed most days. Why don’t I deserve quality of life? Who the hell are you to tell me that I don’t deserve to live? Many days I have thought that I would be better off dead! You have taken away the only thing that allows me to live. I am being vilified and treated like a criminal while junkies are being catered to and provided clean needles and safe places to shoot up. I am an admin of two groups on Facebook and I have heard countless stories of suffering and suicide, Many people have been abandoned my their doctors, Had their pain medications reduced or flat out cut off! Tylenol kills way more people every year than opioids taken under the supervision of a doctor. Heroin metabolizes down to Morphine in the body so all these people that are dying of Heroin overdose are being labelled as an opioid overdose. I have a very well documented, extremely painful disease that nothing more can be done for besides symptom control. Opioids gave me my life back only to have it taken away again because of you! Tylenol kills more people than opioids do when takes as directed under the supervision of a doctor! You all should be ashamed of yourselves. You have the blood of the chronic pain community on your hands. How do you sleep at night?

  39. I do NOT want opioids banned.

    • My wife hung herself to stop the chronic pain. What is it that you do want? Why are those takeing opiods properly under a doctor supervision being attacked while abusers get help?

      http://www.kpaddock.org

      • Sir/Mr.Paddock….I am sorry for your wifes death,,,,,all of us know why,as CPP’s,,,,jmo,,,her death should be honored as dieing for the humane effective medical treatment for all Chronic Physical Pain human beings,,Again,,I am truly sorry for your loss,,maryw

      • I am so very sorry for your loss, I urge all of you to contact investigates@cbsnews.com and get your stories heard! I too lost a close friend who suffered from stage four terminal cancer, drs stopped his meds 10 months ago, leaving him in agony. He put a bullet to his head!! These suicides are on your hands Kolodny! Only place all of you who are playing a part in the genocide of INNOCENT LAW ABIDING CHRONICALLY ILL CITIZENS is HELL!

    • Oh
      Confusing,
      You have characterized all
      Opiates as “heroin pills”
      Except for suboxone, right?

    • Mr.Klondyn,,you sir,,have done more harm to ALL CHRONIC PHYSICAL PAIN PATIENT THEN ANYONE,ON THIS EARTH,,HOW??,,,U SEEM TO FEEL U HAVE SOME SORTA RITE TO DECIDE WHO IS AFFLICATED WITH PHYSICAL PAIN AND WHO IS NOT,, WHEN IT IS LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONE,,,EVEN YOU,,,, TO PHYSICALLY FEEL THE PHYSICAL PAIN OF ANOTHER,,,SO PLEASE TELL ME ,,,WHY,,,,, DO U THINK U HAVE THAT RITE,,,,THAT RITE TO DECIDE,,, WHO IS AFFLICATED W/PHYSICAL PAIN AND WHO IS NOT,,WHEN IT IS LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE,, FOR ANYONE TO FEEL THE PHYSICAL PAIN OF ANOTHER?FURTHERMORE YOUR IDEALOGY THAT ALL,, LONG TERM,IE CHRONIC PHYSICAL PAIN HUMAN BEINGS ARE ,”ADDICTS,,” OR ARE THEE BIGGEST OBSTACLE IN YOR QUEST TO BAN MEDICINE,, YOU FEEL,,,,ARE NOT APPROPIATE FOR US CHRONIC PHYSICAL PAIN PEOPLE,,AGAIN,,,HOW,,,,DO U EVEN THINK U CAN COME TO SUCH A CONCLUSION WHEN U KNOW NOTHING,, OF OUR MEDICAL HISTORIES,,NONE OF OUR PHYSICAL AFFLICATION DUE YO MEDICAL ERROR,,DESEASE ETC,,,HOW/AND WHY DO U EVEN THINK U HAVE THAT RITE,,,FOR YOUR IDEOLOGY OF ,”BAN MORE OPIATES,,WHEN U HAVE ALREADY HURT SOOO MANY TRULY DISPLAYS TO ME,,A CPP,,,,,,,THAT U HAVE NO IDEA/ABILITY OF THE TRULY HARMFUL REALITY U HAVE CAUSE,,U HAVE NO ABILITY TO SEE THE FORCED PHYSICAL PAIN ONTO OTHER HUMAN BEING U HAVE CAUSED, ,,,PEOPLE ARE BEING FORCED TO CHOOSE DEATH AS THEIR ONLY MEANS OF STOPPING PHYSICAL PAIN THAT WAS ONCE CONTROLLED/LESSEN EFFECTIVE W/MEDICINE,,,,AND U SAY,,,BAN MORE OF THEM???DO U NOT SEE THE 27,0000 MORE DEATH SINCE YOUR PENNHUSRT MENATLITY HAS HIT THE FEILD OF MEDICINE/TAX DOLLARS SPENT ON YOUR MEDIA??!@!
      HERE IS WHAT I THINK U HAVE WILLFULLY DONE,,MR.KLONDYN,,I THINK U KNEW DAME WELL FROM WORKING IN THE PRISON SYSTEM WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF U TOOK AWAY MEDICINE AWAY FROM HUMAN BEINGS WHO NEED IT TO LIVE LIFE EVERY DAY,,I THINK U KNEW DAM WELL THAT NO NORMAL HUMAN BEING WOULD WANT TO LIVE LIFE IN FORCED PHYSICAL PAIN,,WHICH U HAVE DONE TO 1000’S OF US,,WITH YOUR INHUMANE CDC GUIDLINES,,AND U FIGURED EITHER WE WOULD DIE,OR BE FORCED INTO YOUR RE-HABS,,,,,FILLER UP,,,,.,AND THE MONIES WOULD START ROLLING IN!!!,,IF I AM WRONG,,THEN TELL US,,HOW MUCH MORE MONIES HAVE YOUR REHABS MADE SINCE YOUR FORCED CDC GUIDELINE/LAWS??!!HAS IT INCREASED??WHY HAVE SEVERAL OF THE ORIGINAL SIGNERS RETRACTED THEIR SIGNATUIRES??WHY DO U WILLFULLY BULLY OUT ANY TRUE PAIN MAMNEGEMNT DOCTORS OUT OF ALL YOUR WASHINGTON D.C. CRONIES MEETINGS..WHY DO U CENSORE ANY CPP,,OR DOCTORS,OR CARE TAKERS OUT OF WASHINGTON D.C,.MEETINGS,ON TAKEN OUR MEDICINES??,WHY WHEN 4200 PEOPLE WHO COMMENTED ON THESE INHUAMNE GUIDELINE TO NOT RESTRICT OUR ACCESS TO TIMELY EFFECTIVE MEDICAL CARE,,WHICH BTW,,IS DEFINED AS TORTURE BY THE U.N.,,BUT WHEN 4200 SAID ,,,NO,,,,, DO NOT IMPLAMENT THESE GUIDELINES,,THEY WILL LITERALLY KILL US,,,,,,,,U DID IT ANYWAYS??!!!!!!!!!!
      TORTURE IS DEFINED AS DENIAL OF EFFECTIVE MEDICAL CARE THUS CAUSING SEVERE PHYSICAL PAIN,,YOUR GUIDELINES HAVE DONE SO,,SOO I ASK U,,Y DO U THINK U HAVE THE RITE TO FORCED PHYSICAL PAIN ONTO ANOTHER LIVING HUMAN BEING WHEN IT IS PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR U OR ANYONE,TO PHYSICALLY FEEL THE PHYSICAL PAIN OF ANOTHER?
      WHY DO U NOT HAVE THEE ABILITY TO RECGONIZED THE REALITY,THE FORCE PHYSICAL PAIN,THE DEATHS,YOUR IDEOLOGY HAS DONE??WITH YOUR STATEMENT,BAN MORE MEDICINE FOR THE MEDICALLY AFFLICTED FROM PAINFUL MEDICAL CONDITIONS?,.,,,,,,MARYW

    • We call you Killer Kolodny for a reason — you have on your hands the blood of many thousands of chronic pain victims you have killed with your baseless recommendations and lies. You have driven them to the streets or suicide for relief. All for what? Reducing opioid prescribing will not stop the addicts from doing what they want. You have caused phenomenal amounts of suffering throughout our nation, and are even infecting Canada with your lies.

      A pill, a drink, a plant does not “cause” addiction. Sex does not “cause” sex addiction. Gambling does not “cause” gambling addiction. Shopping does not “cause” shopping addiction. The abused substance (or activity) is merely the symptom of something much bigger and more complex.

      Any substance that can be used (and consumed in any way) can also be misused and abused. This includes alcohol, which is still the most abused substance in America. 88,000 people die each year in this country due to alcohol or alcohol-related accidents and injuries. It is legal, cheap, and widely available. It has no medicinal value but is a wonderful form of revenue for federal, state and local governments (as it is taxed at a higher rate).

      Who is the DEA, CDC, etc. to determine who gets pain relief and who doesn’t? They are building a false crisis with manufactured, flawed, made-up statistics (the CDC actually ADMITS to falsifying the data, https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2016/12/26/new-cdc-overdose-study-reduces-role-of-pain-meds, taking the focus of a patient’s right to treatment by their physicians (which will do NOTHING to alleviate the addiction problem – addicts will always find what they want). Very, very few chronic pain patients become addicted to opioid medication – fewer than 2% when properly treated and monitored, fewer than 1% if there are no addictive behaviors in the family.

      You don’t want opioids banned? Your quote says otherwise — you sound like you’re gleefully awaiting complete prohibition: “I’m hopeful that this signals a change at FDA—and that Opana might be just the first opioid that they’ll consider taking off the market. It’s too soon to tell.”

      • Amen Lauri,,your writing is better then mine,,and I AGREE 1000 %% W/YOUR TRUTHFUL KNOWLEDGE,,,10000%,,it is the reality klondyn can’t seem to grasp at all ,hmm,,,inability to recgonized the reaity/.consequences of his actions,hmmm,,,gee who demonstrates the inability to see reality,inability to recognize the consequences of his action,,,inability to see the agony or suffering of others,,,,,inability for compassion,,,,,and that defines what type of psychological ABNORMAL behaviours,,???????and we cpp’s are the problem??I think not,,,I think a/the person who is displaying psychopathic behaviours would be the problem,,,,,,maryw

    • It seems you DO wish to ban pain medications and want to destroy the lives of those of us who suffer from intractable pain. We are the only ones being punished in your war against pain medications, and we are dying from relentless pain. You sir, are a disgrace to the medical profession and a despicable human being.

    • Kolodny – here’s your chance to explain yourself, your stance and your actions that have absolutely harmed intractable pain, cancer and surgical patients. Yes…many surgical patients are being given nothing but Tylenol following surgery. Explain yourself to us

    • Ban all opiates except Suboxone, but I see another person beat me to it. But your Guidelines are responsible for so many Chronic Pain Patients taking their lives, as seen already here in one reply. God bless her. There is no empathy and compassion for people truly suffering anymore thanks to PROP and no understanding of how “dependence” is an expected result of a person taking an opioid properly under the direction of a Medical Physician. You never took metabolism, genetics, CYP2D6, OR ADMET into consideration. That stands for Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity. Drugs either live or die because of ADMET and all 5 properties of Any given drug is impossible to fully predict in advance of any given medical treatment. Where did you do to medical school anyway?

    • Really Mr Kolodny??? Your full of shit and have caused harm to hundreds of thousands who are suffering with debilitating incurable diseases that cause severe pain daily. How dare you push to have all opiods gone, taking the lifeline of millions. You sir are one sick man! Because of you, Christie and tge rest of your corrupt sidekicks my dr dropped me, five years he treated me and just like that drops me due to you killers interfering where you DO NOT BELONG! You and your prohibition of LIFESAVING PAIN MEDICATION and the propaganda horseshit your feeding the public will come back to you and when it does u better beg God for mercy! There is so much corruption behind this fictious opiod epidemic! !! We all know how you pushed suboxone into every prison cell, how well connected you are to the makers of that OPIOD, which btw, what a dam hypocrit you are! You deny legitimate intractable pain pts our lifeline opiods, but find it acceptable for people to be on suboxone, an addictive opiod, for years. Doesn’t make sense but when it comes to greed nothing makes sense. Why are u all not targeting the drug cartel, the corrupt DEA agents who are putting illegal drugs on the same streets killing people. The overdose rate continues to rise as does the suicide rate while pain pts are being denied thier pain meds, we are being abandoned by our drs, the corrupt DEA is shutting down all pain drs. Legitimate pain pts are being forced to the streets for relief, NOT DUE TO ADDICTION EITHER, DUE TO THE OVERBEARING PAIN YOU AND YOUR SIDEKICKS HAVE INFLICTED ON THEM, OR TURNING TO SUICIDE TO END THE PAIN! But you and your sidekicks have it all figured out, as anyone with an opiod in their system who dies, we’ll you guys label it as an overdose, regardless if opiods were not the cause of death but say a car running the person over. How is the CDC not being held accountable for all their lies. They even admit to doubling and tripling each overdose death, they admitted to MISCLASSIFYING all heroin deaths as a death to RX pills, they admitted to using cherry picked data and FALSIFIED STATISTICS TO FIT THE GOVERNMENT’S ADDICTION DRIVEN AGENDA! My QUALITY OF LIFE was taken from me, I no longer participate in life as the pain that was once tolerable thru using opiods, is just to much so I remain homebound begging my savior to take me. This is EXACTLY what you hypocrits want, it’s called population control, and you are killing off the pain community every day, Vets and civilians alike.

      Opiod epidemic? ?? Why is the production of alcohol and tobacco not being shut down as the deathrates far exceed your falsified overdose death rate and yet not one word. Chronic intractable pain does not discriminate and I hope you will know what it’s like to be in agony every day and night or your loved ones, may you get to watch your loved ones suffer so bad they beg god to take them, but that will never happen as you and your sidekicks have access to drs and pharmacies whenever you need. You are a disgrace to the medical community. You are targeting the wrong group of people. Explain to me why addicts are bring treated like broken babies, why is our government giving them clean needles, safe places to shoot their shit up, even providing the heroin !! Having them come back several times a day including one last dose at night cuz we wouldn’t want them to suffer withdrawal, meanwhile legit pain pts are being ABANDONED BY THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, FORCED TO EXIST IN A TORTUROUS HELL. IT’S VERY CLEAR THIS WHOLE FICTIOUS OPIOD EPIDEMIC IS NOT ABOUT SAVING LIVES, BUT ABOUT GREED AND $$$$$ AND YOU SIR ARE GETTING PLENTY OF IT PUSHING YOUR ANTI OPIOD AGENDA!

      • bingo,,they want that revolving door,like the prison systems and marijuana,,but NOW,, we have to fight back w/lawyers,,,NOW!!!!maryw

      • POWERFUL Pam! And the best I have ever read! You hit absolutely every devastating point this fictitious Opioid epidemic has done to us legitimate decent people suffering severe debilitating pain and disease and what have to go through! BRAVO!

    • Dr Kolodny

      The AMA is not going to allow the Opiates to be continued to be prescribed by doctors to addicts. Your precious Suboxone is in serious jeopardy. You dont break federal laws by prescribing a controlled substance to maintain the addiction of an addict. That is statednin the Harrison Narcotics Act. You are breaking federal laws by dispensing an opioid to a person with a known opiate addiction. What do you say about that? The AMA declined to give a waiver and referred it to Committee. I hope they stop allowing doctors feed addicts addictions. It doesn’t work like you think it does. Its just a money machine and the entire reason for this agenda with the CDC. I hope they do away with the waiver. They should. You shouldn’t be breaking federal laws to make money.

    • Since I can not eave the whole comment I would like to leave. I will ask Mr Kolodny this, Are your pockets getting full enough now? Pheonix House was in trouble and now they are spending money to redo themselves from what i have read. You Mr Kolodny are directly responsible for the deaths of many who could no longer take the pain. Why the hell were there not ANY competent pain experts on that panel? Why have pain patients not been ask anything about how opiates work for them? I am in so much pain because of my medication being reduced to hardly anything that I want to die. I have chronic panreatitis (my pancreas is digesting itself) and it is horrific pain. I dont know how you sleep at night but I hope there is a special place in hell for you Mr Kolodny, you do not deserve the title Dr!

    • Hey Kolodny, you had the balls to post a comment that you dont want opiods gone, where’d your balls go!?!? Many on here want answers and what, no time for the chronically ill you are inflicting harm, pain and suffering on!?!? no time to answer those who lost loved ones to suicide because of your barbaric and inhumane actions!?!? We are all waiting to hear your bullshit !!!! You ought to take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror and realize karma will eventually catch up to you. All that power you think you have, all the money your raking in off of the chronically ill and taking our lifelines, God sees you or whoever your higher power is..there is no place in Heaven for killers like you. I read all about your detox ctr, Phoenix House, a few years ago and how that place did nothing for those suffering from addiction, in fact people were high as kites in that place, all the illegal drugs people were exposed to, the abuse, neglect, violence…and you call yourself a dam dr!?!? You are despicable ! a disgrace to the medical community!

      • He is not MAN enough to answer! I guarantee you, he has not seen ANY of these posts since he said that. He’s home enjoying his pain free life, while others hang themselves due to HIS murderous actions!

      • AMEN!!!,,,,,,,,,,,,,perfect Pam,,,,,,,,,maryw

    • Is that ALL you can say to these people “DOCTOR”? These people who are in such pain, suicide is their only option. Is this ALL you can say? Do you and your cronies NOT understand that by doing these things, you are actually forcing CPP TOWARDS heroin and the streets. Does their acts of suicide NOT bother you at all? If what you say is true, WHY don’t you speak up or help?

    • Andy you need to help the chronic pain patients instead of harming us.

    • What the government and these agencies are doing is faulting chronic pain disease patients and our physicians for the overdoses and deaths of addicts. Chronic pain disease patients who become addicted to their medications is actually very low, .02-.6%. We have legitimate prescription medications for a disease. The crisis is they are targeting the wrong people. They are not allowing our physicians to treat us humanely and to the best of their ability. They are trying to doctor us all, without having a medical license.
      They need to go after the illegal fentanyl and heroin manufacturers and distributors, also, methamphetamine, cocaine and all other illegal drugs.
      This targeting is wrong, it’s discrimination against legitimate chronic pain disease patients, who use our MEDICATION responsibly.

    • Are you willing to step up to the plate and instruct doctors that there ARE legitimate purposes for opioids? Are you willing to stop the smear campaign against these innocent victims? Are you willing to answer to the suicides? You need to correct your wrongdoing & get these people titrated back up to where they need to be so that they can squeeze what little enjoyment they can get out of life? Do you know how many people are without doctors right now? Please respond Andrew Kolodny

    • Andrew, if you didn’t have other voices blocked you could clarify your position so that it becomes comprehensible through transparent dialogue. Because right now? You’re in charge of the death panels, right behind Mitch McConnell and Chris Christie. And your own messaging, filtered through the media, has placed you there. I can’t imagine that is a comfortable position for any clinician to operate from.

  40. Dr.Ibsen said this long ago,,,they want opiates gone,,,the question now is,,,HOW DO WE STOP THIS MADMAN,,AND GET WASHINGTON D.C. TO LISTEN TO US,,OR THE LIKES OF Steve,,MR.lAWHERN ETC???!!!! HOW DO WE STOP A MADMAN????maryw

    • Let me make my statement clear,,I ALSO BELIEVE KLONDYN WANTS ALL OPIATEES GONE,,,, not that Dr..Ibsen had anything to do w/my freedom to think freely as a adult,,,its called ,”free will”,,,,,,,maybe klondyn never heard of it before???maryw

  41. How about going after “insulin abusers” who use syringes and needles to give themselves what they need. If insulin needles were to be rescued with multiple people, I am certain that we would also see a rise in adverse events. How far down does this rabbit hole go? CPAP masks, endotracheal tubes, PIC lines, Central Lines, Mesh implants, epidural injections with unapproved medications.

  42. I am left nearly speecless. The medical community refusing to treat people in pain? Removing any and all possibilities that may help people who are suffering? This is madness!

  43. What they are doing is fighting chronic pain disease patients who use legitimate prescription medications for a disease. The crisis is that they are targeting the wrong people. Chronic pain is now the epidemic. We are being caterogized, for a medication we require to reduce our pain. No other chronic disease patient is targeted for the medication they must take.
    What about the good of opioid medications. They are lifesaving medications for millions of Americans who live in constant, debilitating chronic pain. The addiction rate of legitimate chronic pain disease patients is .02-.6 %.
    The FDA, DEA, CDC and all other Government agencies need to go after the illegal fentynal and heroin producers and manufacturers, also, methamphetamine, cocaine and all other illegal drugs.
    The targeting is wrong! It is discrimination against legitimate chronic pain disease patients who use our MEDICATION responsibly.

    • Candi,,,contact me via Steve,,,Walker just signed a bill for ,”involuntary commitment,,”’ for cpp’s,,,labelled ,,”addicts,”’ on their medical records,,,,,,,,,,,maryw

      • How do i contact u maryw?
        What is it walker just signed? I’ve contacted him and our reps etc, thru email.
        Candi Simonis

      • What the hell? How can they do that and why are people not taking to the streets over that? They have gone too far, we have to fight back NOW!

        • Need to Protest. Our message is not being heard!

          • Ken,,they have heard it,,ie,,the truth,,,,which is why we are being WILLFULLY censored,,Do u know,,klondyn can complin to any online newspaper abut someone comment being liable,,,and they will censore/pull that comment!,,,,maryw

      • WHAT??? Mary, do you have a ink to that? What state is this?

        • Wisconsin,,,type in ,”involuntary committment signed into law,Govenor Walker,state of Wisconsin,,,,maryw,,,,

      • Please tell me which state this and if you have a link, will you please share it?

    • Candi, you have said it perfectly.  Opioid medicatons like oxycodone and Morphine have been used successfully for years for people suffering with chronic pain and I happen to be one of them.  I have never abused it and while there is a “dependency,”  I just don’t buy the theory that we are “addicts” seeking a drug high because when you are in pain, you just want to manage the pain, you are not looking to get high from this.  Are people who have to take a HBP or diabetes pill “dependent?” While they may not have withdrawal symptoms, isn’t that a form of dependency? 

       It’s really sad that people suffering with chronic pain are often so misunderstood apparently by doctors and we don’t get public sympathy most likely from hearing so many negative stories about overdoses in the press; hard to relate unless you have experienced extended pain yourself. It’s something you can’t talk about so you have the stigma and isolation as well.  Is it possible people get depressed and do take more, I don’t know?  Anything’s possible.  It’s just why is the government coming between doctor’s and patients which is causing some doctors to not even want to treat people.  

      I think years ago some people were over-prescribed and the extra pills  that could have been left in the medicine cabinet’s ended up on the street  whether they were sold or more likely by friends or family possibly taking a few and then especially young people who don’t know what they are doing got a little buzz and then went looking for a high (like many teenagers did back in my day sneaking around 

       I’m sure they aren’t that different today.. When I was 18/19 and so young and naive,  I probably trusted anybody at a party that would give us a “blue or a white” pill back in early 60’s we didn’t know anything……Fortunately, I didn’t like marijuana and it’s a good thing I wasn’t that curious or experimental or I would be dead like so many today as whatever they are selling now is getting people hooked and it’s become a national tragedy selling stuff cut with fentenyl that’s killing people left and right. 

      That’s a problem they need to deal with through honest education not the lies and scare tactics we got in the film, “Reefer Madness” about marijuana which is probably why people didn’t worry about taking a little pill someone would offer at a party.  What I do fear is that people suffering with legitimate pain seeming to be getting cut off and I can see if they are in terrible pain,  why they would take their chances and try to get some in the black market like they do marijuana and  then the goverment is going, if not already having a bigger problem.  However, the real statistics are not even close to the devastation that alcohol reaps on our society in terms of associated deaths and violence.  Unfortunately, perception is what matters.  How do we change the perception?   Marijuana has become acceptable but pain medication is highly stigmatized and that might be good for young people but not for those who really  need it.

      I’ve always thought this is what happened to Prince and some other famous people who had “street” contacts but didn’t realize the risk they were taking with these unregulated “medicines.”   I can imagine the pain he must have had given how he jumped around on that stage and he likely needed more than his doctor would prescribe. 

       I assume that cutting back perscriptions may have solved some problems but then created new ones.  More deaths from non-prescription opioids.  The other part to that story is that when they do the statistics, my understanding is that everything is lumped together and I don’t think they distinguish between what other drugs and/or alcohol is involved when they report “death from overdose.”  Ultimately, the laws now seem to target patients and make life difficult for the pharmacies as well who are always having to juggle how much they can order and who they can treat.

       As far as this article,  I’m not sure I’m reading where he is saying to take all opoids off the market.  The only one he seemed to target was Opana which I don’t know anything about.  

      I saw something on TV recently about a spray that was really strong and killing a lot of people.  That’s the only drug this company made and they were making millions of dollars in just the last few years.  It’s amazing how nothing was being done considering how many people were dying and I think it’s still on the market.  They did not use the word fentanyl but it was some kind of spray for pain. I know I told some people and maybe could find that message or it’s written down somewhere.    I wish I could remember the name of the company; they said they were going to go into the Medical marijuana business next. 

       It just seems to be all about money.  And as long as there is money to be made, we can expect there to be pain medication on the market but it appears that it’s going to be harder and harder to get and if you need it longer than a week, then you have to go to a pain management doctor every 30 days and your whole life revolves around  your doctor appointments and that can be very difficult for some people;  imagine if you don’t drive or like some Veterans, live over an hour from your VA clinic that have also cracked down on prescriptions.     

       It didn’t use to be that way but I don’t expect this to ever change.  Did you know that in Bangladesh, you can buy legitimate Opioid medication over the counter so why do we have this problem in America and other countries don’t  seem to?  That’s the big mystery to me.   The only thing I can say is that there are good doctors who do care and you just have to find one.  

       Someone told me that we can write letters to someone.  I don’t know who that is.  Last summer, I wrote a long report to Charlie Crist which I hand delivered to him and I think I made a good impression on him that everyone on pain medications is not an addict.  I don’t know what more I can do other than tell pretty much what I’ve said here as other than more detail about some unfortunate experiences I’ve had when I changed pharmacies.  Is there anything anyone can advise me what I can do that can help others?  Is this the kind of story they want? If anyone wants to reach me, ask Steve, he knows who I am…

      • Yes. There ARE things you can do and people to write to. I belong to some Facebook groups advocating for Chronic pain patients. First, send me a fiend request if you’re on Facebook. Search foe Micheal J. Maltese or email me at MJM54110@gmail.com and I will be happy to hook you up. We could USE some of your stories! Mikey

  44. WE ALL KNEW IT,, this is exactly the prohibition of the 1920’S,,this is the puritans witch hunt of the 1600’s,,,,on our time,,,,,,,if u have 1 ounce of strength left in u,,,u BETTER FIGHT BACK,,for u watch,,they will be doing surgeries w/thee mentality of,,” bite on a stick,”,,,,this klondyn has taken our country sooo far back in medicine, he is defined as crazy,,a lunatic himself,,,Fact,,,,,it is physically impossible for anyone to physically feel the physical pain of another,,yet klondyn seems to think he has a rite to force ALLL OF AMERERICA no matter your medical affliction,,,to suffer in that physical PAIN because of his twisted ideology, false propaganda,lieful bias research,,,and u doctors bought rite into it!!!!!!!!why???why would u agree to violate the oath u took as a doctor,,,,to do no harm,,,forcing another human,,to suffer in physical pain due to ANY medical affliction is doing harm!!!!The factual definition of a psychopath is;;;inability for compassion,,,Inability to recognized suffering or physical pain onto another living entity,,,,Delusions’ of grandure,,,,Inability to see the reality,,,,the consequences of their action,,,,I say klkondyn again,,,fits the definition perfectly,,,,yet doctors still follow him and his lieful teachings,,,,why????WHY would anyone follow the direction of a madman??Do they too want the archaic days of old to return w/lunatic asylums,warehouses full of people who’s only crime is they are in physical pain from a medical affliction???WHAT IS WRONG W/OUR DOCTORS,,,WHEN THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO FOLLOW A MADAMAN??!!!!!

    • You are exactly right. Couldn’t agree more…

    • Mary you are 1000% right! I look forward to the day that karma hits them all starting with Kolodny, how this mam has so much power, him and his corrupt sidekicks, pushing suboxone, an OPIATE down every pain pts throat labeling us as addicts. Just wait Kolodny cuz God sees all and the blood on your hands from the many you have forced into a torturous hell from one side of the country to the other will come back 100 times worse on ur body. I hope u know what it’s like to feel as if your spine is being crushed continuously, to feel as though your hips are being chopped at with an ice pick, yo feel a zillion burning pins puncturing your feet with every step, to feel your knees being hammered away at sending electric shocks up and down your legs, just a little if tge overbearing pain I feel every day. Who the hell are u to deny legitimate intractable pain pts our LIFESAVING PAIN MEDICATION! Mary you have hit the nail on the head with all u say, these killers are sending legitimate pain pts off to detox ctrs where we will be treated like addicts. Or push us to the point we go insane from tge pain. Locking us up in mental wards as if it’s all in our head the pain. These corrupt self serving assholes know dam well there’s no opiod epidemic. It’s heroin and illegal fentanyl flooding the streets killing people, ILLEGAL DRUGS that the corrupt DEA helps the cartel to get it on the streets. Wtf are we suppose to do. ..suffer until we off ourselves is what these killers want. We have rights in this country which includes the right to pain relief!! Whatever that option may be, although once one is on opiods they have pretty much tried the alternative therapies. Come spend a few days with me kolodny, see how u helped to take my quality of life, !!

      • Pam,,,Coming to theater near u soon,,my state just deem any ADULT by klondyns definition,,,that is labelled a ,”addict,” via medical records or doctor,,will be forcible put in a psychiatric mental facility against their will until a judge decide otherwise!!!!!!!!!!back to the 1800’s we go,,Gotta hand it too u klondyn,,ur psychopathic dream has come true,,your warehouses will be full of the medically ill in physical pain,,and u r happy about it,,,,that sickening,,,maryw

        • I’m in NJ, drs are being targeted left and right, I believe there were 31 drs recently targeted by the DEA and did u see the shit about the DEA targeting the genetics testing place that do the tests to see what opiods will work or how fast one metabolize them? These killers are coming at the pain community from all sides. I’ve been dropped in April and am in hell, NO dr will take over my scripts, this is torture and the government and their sidekicks need to be held accountable for the terrorism they are inflicting thruout the pain community!

          • would u testify to this in a court of law Pam????for here in wisco,,,u will be locked up in some psych warehouse for having physical pain,,,thanks to klondyn,,,maryw

            • jOfcourse I would! We need legal representation now! The abuse, neglect, discrimination against the chronically ill by our government needs to be exposed!

            • Maryw,
              I emailed our senators, walker, our reps, etc. I joined alot of their news letters etc, also the medical sites, news letters so i can comment on everything possible . I can not find walkers new laws?
              Candi S

          • Pam, I am also fr0om New Jersey, and provided you don’t have too many violations, I DO know of a very professional group who will help you! Please contact me at MJM54110@gmail.com. Put “From Pam” in the subject line!!!

            • U know,,,u guys know this,,but wth,,we are medically ill w/painful medical condition,which the MEDICINE,,CALLED OPIATES ,, work for us,,and we have to have thee under ground rail road in 2017..U know,,I.ve been thinken,,maybe we should all get together,and rite down a list of laws ourselfs,,that we want implemented to stop all this archain dark age of Klondyn,,I looked up ,”medicine,” in my Wisconsin government site,,NOTHING,,NOTTA,,,,,,drugs yes,,but no word medicine soo maybe a law,,that I believe use to be in the book for 100 years,, A law that states,,,any,,,medical care that requires ANY MEDICINE ,,,THAT IS PRESCRIBED BY A LEGAL DOCTOR SHALL/WILL BE CAL;LED ONLY A MEDICINE,, and never be referred to as a ,”drug,,” ,,Law 2,,that the definition of a drug be defined by EXACT CHEMICAL FORMULA,, not by a ,”similar chemical formal.,”.,,.Thus the legal definition of a controlled substance is once again,,any medicine legally prescribed by a legal doctor,which by the EXACT chemical formula matches said medicine..,,,and shall never legally be defined as a drug,,.
              My point being,take back the tools,,they changed to kill us/docs,,and put them back to the way that worked for over 100 years, that use to protect us/doc’pharm,,,,have them written back into law,???,jmo,,maryw

    • VERY well put. Don’t expect this piece of shit to answer though. He’s not MAN enough. What will he do when it’s him, his mom or daughter. I pray HARD he feels intense physical pain like I do every day of my life! There’s a place in HELL for this asshole. I TRULY hope he suffers severe intense pain some day, and no one helps him. God forgive me, but I want that SO bad!

    • 1,000,000,000,000,000,000% CORRECT An Eye For an Eye….. You Selfish Demon!

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