The Other Side of Opioids

LAS VEGAS – Nightly newscasts across the country are filled with stories about the opioid epidemic — the opioid crisis. Tens of thousands of Americans who die each year are found with opioids in their systems, and so government at every level has stepped in to put limits on otherwise legal medications, including here in Nevada. For millions of chronic pain patients, the crackdown has been a nightmare. They are the forgotten victims in the opioid debate. Approximately 50,000 people a year die with opioids of one kind or another in their systems. The number you don’t hear is this one — there are as many as 25 million Americans who suffer with chronic pain. For many of them, opioid medication means the difference between leading somewhat normal lives, or surviving in constant agony. These are not the people who O.D. on heroin or mix drugs with booze. For the most part, they suffer and die in silence.

7 Responses

  1. The wording, “they die witb opioids in their system…” is NOT saying the same thing as 5hey died FROM opioids, just that there WAS opioids in their system. See how the wording can be construed to make you THINK they died of opioids? This is a damned play on words.

  2. We are being denied “a republican form of government” as required by the Constitution. When bureaucrats can enact and enforce regulations that have the force of law, we are being denied “due process of law”. How did this happen? When did we lose our civil rights and liberties? Why are my medical records open to government review without reasonable grounds or any evidence that a crime has been committed? Why are chronic pain patients treated as criminal suspects without evidence that a crime has been committed?
    We can no longer tolerate this movement toward a dictatorial government.
    Bring back our democratic republic or we will degenerate to another third world nation ruled by the rich and powerful individuals and corporations.

  3. And so once again, we are left with absolutely no hope and no recourse. We are forced to live with debilitating and horrifying pain, and can do NOTHING to get the help we need. What is the answer, Steve? I live with so much anxiety that “next time” I will once again be turned away by an incompetent and profiling pharmacist, even tho my records are in perfect order…or next month they will close my pain management clinic. What can we actually do about any of it? This was a very informative and accurate portrayal of what is actually going on in the US. What can we do to get more of these informative articles out to the public. I’m so overwhelmed by just waiting to be next on the hit list. At 61 my nerves are shot worrying about all of it.

    • everything you said i have had done to me so i definitely know what you are going through,…other people say that but i definitely qualify as knowing what people in pain go through,… i have spinal fusion 2 herniations above and below the site 3 titanium rods clamped to my spine ,..nerve damage pinched nerves ,..anxiety panic attacks from all the worry and there seems as thought here is absolutely nothing WE as patients can do about this misrepresentation of us being treated as criminals ,..oh i definitely know that first hand,…..how about when the hospial sends you out the door with nothing and calls the cops on you ??

      oh , i definitely know what veryone is going through with these new protocols in place ,.. hey maybe someone can tell me legally how a medicare presription provider company can call the docor and fax him a 3 page report throwwing you under the bus saying you are a doctor shopper when all of the doctors thet have in the report were HOSPITAL VISITS then after i call up this medication management section of arizona university of parm d and they say that basically they didnt know that they were hospital visits and they don’t even know WHATS WRONG WITH YOU ,…..YES THAT’S RIGHT THESE COLLEGE STUDENTS get paid to throw you under the bus before the doctor even sees you for the first consultation ,…..well i could go on and on but i won’t ,… but if anyone knows anything about this college of KNOWLEDGE PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FILL ME IN because i am all ears ,…….i worked hard all my life ,…now i am permenently disabled and i have to constantly fight to get relief after being prescribed for 10 years now they want to give me NOTHING saying that i am fixed MAGICALLY !

      BE WELL EVERYONE AND HAPPY 2019

  4. Please have National News pick these up. Thanks

  5. Why is this story not being told on the MAJOR news stories? Why is “Sixty Minutes” not covering this???? They certainly put out a story twice about opioids that was inaccurate! In other words, they did not tell the whole story.

  6. So where is our voice heard in government??

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