Senators Gillibrand And Gardner Announce Bipartisan Legislation To Combat Opioid Crisis By Limiting Prescriptions To Seven Days

Senators Gillibrand And Gardner Announce Bipartisan Legislation To Combat Opioid Crisis By Limiting Prescriptions To Seven Days

https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/senators-gillibrand-and-gardner-announce-bipartisan-legislation-to-combat-opioid-crisis-by-limiting-prescriptions-to-seven-days

Legislation Would Help Combat Addiction and Abuse by Creating Tougher Law on Initial Opioid Prescriptions

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) today announced bipartisan legislation to combat the opioid crisis. The John S. McCain Opioid Addiction and Prevention Act would limit the supply of initial opioid prescriptions for acute pain to seven days. This bill is named after late-Senator John McCain, who was the Republican lead of this legislation last Congress.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are nearly two million Americans misusing prescription opioids, and each day, 41 people die from an overdose related to these prescription painkillers. The CDC also found that in 2017, 68 percent of drug overdose deaths involved an opioid. This bill would create a seven-day prescription limit for opioids so that no more than a seven-day supply may be prescribed to a patient at one time for acute pain, such as a wisdom tooth removal or a broken bone. This would help restrict the excess supply of opioids and help minimize the risk of abuse.

“Too many families throughout New York and our country have suffered from the devastating consequences of the opioid epidemic. No community has been left untouched, and we need to be proactive when it comes to ending this crisis,” said Senator Gillibrand. “One of the root causes of opioid abuse is the over-prescription of these powerful and addictive drugs. I’m proud to join with Senator Gardner to introduce bipartisan legislation that limits the over-prescription of opioids. This would help our communities combat opioid addiction, and I urge my colleagues in Congress to pass this bill.”

“As I’ve met with Coloradans impacted by the opioid epidemic, the recurring story is clear. Oftentimes, the first over prescription spurs the devastating path of addiction,” said Senator Gardner. “Over prescriptions for pain management have allowed the opioid crisis to hit every corner of our communities, and this common sense legislation establishes the appropriate protections to help prevent addiction in the first place.” 

“The seven-day limit for initial acute-pain opioid prescriptions is consistent with pharmacists’ recommendations from the front-lines of care, their collaboration with law enforcement, and the needs of chronic pain sufferers. Six-in-10 Americans support this measure, with only two-in-10 indicating opposition, according to a January 2019 Morning Consult poll commissioned by NACDS. This bill will help prevent addiction and help prevent unused medications from falling into the wrong hands. Our support reflects pharmacies’ longstanding commitment to serve as part of the solution,” said NACDS (National Association of Chain Drug Stores) President & CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE.

The John S. McCain Opioid Addiction and Prevention Act would help reduce the amount of excess opioids by requiring medical professionals, as a part of their Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) registration, to certify that they will not prescribe an opioid as an initial treatment for acute pain in an amount that exceeds a seven-day supply. Medical professionals would also have to certify that they would not provide a refill. Under current federal law, a medical professional must register with the DEA in order to be allowed to prescribe a controlled substance in the United States. This registration must be renewed every three years.

This seven-day prescription limit would not apply to the treatment of chronic pain; pain being treated as part of cancer care, hospice care, or other end-of-life care; or pain treated as part of palliative care. This federal legislation is modeled after laws in several states. Currently, fifteen states, including New York, limit initial opioid prescriptions for acute pain.  

This was from Senator’s Gillibrand’s official government website… Apparently Senator Gillibrand – or whoever on her staff or Senator Gardner’s – or his staff doesn’t know the difference between the word PRESCRIPTION – a noun – and the word PRESCRIBING – verb.  Because you find this statement SEVERAL TIMES

One of the root causes of opioid abuse is the over-prescription of these powerful and addictive drugs

Here is another DECEPTIVE STATEMENT and this bill/law would deny pt that are continuing to experience pain after 7 days – NO ADDITIONAL OPIATE MEDS

Medical professionals would also have to certify that they would not provide a refill.

So a person who has a life altering event other than:  pain being treated as part of cancer care, hospice care, or other end-of-life care; or pain treated as part of palliative care. and ends up being a legit chronic pain pts… apparently – if this bill is passed – is just screwed in getting opiates to treat their chronic pain.  So is the ultimate goal of this bill/law is to prevent the disease of addiction/substance abuse as well as the disease of CHRONIC DISEASE from happening?

Here is another “little jewel” in this declaration:   41 people die from an overdose related to these prescription painkillers.  So exactly what does “related” to these prescription painkillers suppose to mean ?  Is this suppose to create a smoke and mirror scenario to hide the fact that the vast majority of opiate OD’s are from multiple substances including ILLEGAL FENTANYL ANALOG ?… and don’t forget that most/many include the DRUG — ALCOHOL ?

What does this say about their knowledge base of these two Senators, their staff, or whoever convinced them to support this bill ?

Don’t forget that there is no educational requirement nor experience to run/elected to a political office … this published statement and the related proposed bill from these two Senators might clearly demonstrate there could  be a definite need to review this issue.  AND one of these Senators has announced her intention to run for PRESIDENT ?

18 Responses

  1. I wonder how John McCain would’ve felt if he was only allowed a 7 day prescription? I know he had cancer, but what if he’d been in a terrible car accident instead. Had his surgery, got sent home, used up his 7 day allotment and couldn’t get anymore pain meds. Why isn’t this being left between a doctor (who actually spent years and years training for this) and the patient. Who the hell asked the politicians to butt in? I wish C. Everett Koop was still alive.

  2. More psychic politicians without a medical degree dictating my care!

  3. This is a link to a Thread by Delaney Williams @AuthorDelaneyW “This bill eliminates the ability to get renewals for chronic pain patients & why what Gillibrand is suggesting creates an absolute NO vote for supporting her.” Delaney gives a very thorough analysis of the bill in 29 Tweets.

    We shouldn’t forget Corey Gardner (snake) from Colorado.

    https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1108357228329750533.html

  4. Chronic illness patients fo not abuse their meds nor do they get “high” off them. They need them to try and lead as normal a productive life possible. The blood on your hands from suicides from said patients will send you straight to Hell where you belong because we all know if you or your loved o e becomes a chronic illness person, you will receive whatever med you need. You are not just ignorant to this subject, you’re down right STUPID!!!

  5. That is bullshit. The DEA gets to determine how much your pain is and how many they think you should have. The heroin addiction was also caused by the Drs that prescribe the pain meds then cut you off cold turkey. Without no consultation. I think if a Doctor cuts you off your pain meds, that they take you down slowly. Then have a outside source that counsels and helps them get past the withdrawal. If the Government is gonna control our pain and put thousands of dollars into fighting opiad abuse. Then they can take some of that money to help fund a program that would be soley for Doctor’s dismal from their pain medicine.

  6. I will not be voting for either of these dumb Democrats.

    • Plow…it’s not as if the Republicans have been bastions of compassion for pain patients. The sadism is equally the responsibility of both/all parties.

  7. Medical Doctors should be all over this, not patients.

  8. Cory Gardner is a professional Politician from Colorado – a state which just voted to ignore their own votes to follow whoever has the majority in the Electoral College. People grow more ignorant day by day.

    Cory Gardner
    Cory Scott Gardner is an American politician serving as the junior United States Senator from Colorado since 2015. A Republican, he was previously the U.S. Representative for Colorado’s 4th congressional district from 2011 to 2015 and a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011.Wikipedia
    Born:Cory Scott Gardner, Aug 22, 1974, Yuma, Colorado, U.S.
    Nationality:American
    Political party:Republican

    Kirsten Elizabeth Gillibrand is an American attorney and politician serving as the junior United States Senator from New York since January 2009. She previously held the position of U.S. Representative for New York’s 20th congressional district from 2007 until her Senate appointment. A member of the Democratic Party, Gillibrand is the state’s second female U.S. Senator.Wikipedia
    Born:Kirsten Elizabeth Rutnik, Dec 9, 1966, Albany, New York, U.S.
    Nationality:American
    Political party:Democratic
    She’s running for President.

    I will circulate this article and see if we can get some traction on it. It’s horrifying what they are doing.

    • the state needs to sell it’s heroin supply.why do you think our military is guarding the poppy fields in afghanistan?

  9. Well now I know one person NOT to vote for.

  10. I sincerely and with much forethought hope every one of these people & everyone responsible for the sadistic torture of pain patients, using lies & propaganda, gets intolerable incurable pain & spends YEARS with no treatment.

    I used to be a decent person who didn’t wish such horrible things upon others (well, almost all others) but they’ve taught me bitterness & how to hate.

  11. psss,,I just email the senator from NY, asking him to please stop lying to the public,stop bullying the weakest in our society,the sick and the dieing,,by stating the cdc,blah blah,,,for I emailed the cdc,,and the cdc and I quote,”said they had absolutely no data what so-ever on ANY death from people taking their opiate medicine as their doctors presctibe it,” unquote,,soo please stop ;lying to the public,and torturing our medically ill to death,,,,i suggest others do the same,for it is fact/truth no-one has died from taking a lawfyul medicine opiates,as their lawful doctor’s have PRESCRIBED,NO-ONE!!!!,maryw

    • Mary; if you could post that reply about no data on no deaths from their own Rx meds, everywhere possible, it’d be GREAT! I’m going to try & see if I can get a similar response from them…we SO need to get that out, especially in mainstream media! what email address did you send it to?

  12. Every piece of data these bozo’s are quoting are lies by liars.I specifically wrote the cdc asked for 2 sets of data..1 being thee amount of people who died from taking their opiate medicine exactly as their doctors prescribed and,,how many died from psychopathic drugs..They wrote back stating they had NO DATA ON EITHER,,NONE,,So they are trying to take away are medicine based on NO DATA,,,,JUST BECAUSE THEY WANT TO?!!!!! I DARE ANYONE WHO DOESN’T BELIEVE THIS TO WRITE THE CDC THEMSELVES,,ASK THEM,,,TO PLEASE GIVE U THEE DATA FROM ALL DEATH FROM PATIENTS TAKING THEIR OPIATE medicines EXACTLY AS THEIR DOCTORS PRESCRIBE,,,,,,,THEY WILL TELL U,,,,THERE IS NO SUCH DATA AVAILABLE,,,MEANING NONE!!!!maryw

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