Editorial: Shortage of legal opioids needs to be addressed
http://buffalonews.com/2018/03/25/editorial-comfort-the-afflicted/
The prospect appalls Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer: People – sometimes children – suffering unnecessary pain after surgery or while undergoing cancer treatments, simply because of “bureaucratic finger-pointing and lack of timely and effective action.” He wants the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to lift production quotas that may be limiting the supply of legal opioids used nationwide. It is exactly what should happen.
As News Washington bureau chief Jerry Zremski wrote, the situation affects Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, among others. Candace S. Johnson, chief executive officer, spoke of the cancer patient as collateral damage, adding that the result could be a “national disaster.”
The cause for concern: the shortage of premeasured doses of hydromorphone, morphine and other injection opioids that doctors in hospitals and hospices use to treat pain caused by some cancers and traumatic injuries.
Roughly 80 percent of Roswell Park’s 125 cancer patients rely on opioids to manage intense pain caused by many cancers. Roswell Park pharmacists have been mixing, dividing up and repackaging opioids. It is a costly creative solution: nearing $2.7 million in 18 months.
Erie County Medical Center, the region’s level-one adult trauma center, in addition to “procuring supplies” is also compounding its own drugs, in the same manner as Roswell Park.
Again, as Zremski’s article indicated, this is not just a local problem. Five national medical groups, led by the American Hospital Association, recently wrote to the DEA warning that should the shortage get any worse, medical care will be affected.
The shortage intensified when Pfizer, the main supplier of injection opioids, scaled back production at its plant in McPherson, Kan., last June. It coincided with an upgrade to its facility.
Another blow hit when one of Pfizer’s suppliers of a key component of its pre-filled syringes experienced a quality-control problem and, as a result, Pfizer placed a temporary hold on its shipment of all such products. It created a domino effect, as Pfizer controls the majority of the market for prescription opioids and other producers do not have the capacity to fill the void.
Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, who is also leading the way on this issue and has sent a letter to the DEA, its inspector general and the Food and Drug Administration, is absolutely right when he says that there needs to be a balance between controls of supply and legitimate need.
The opioid crisis is real and demands close attention by government regulators. But governments must be careful not to create collateral damage among those suffering intense and chronic pain.
Filed under: General Problems
It is now 4/15/2020. Nothing has changed. Although we have worldwide pandemic of covid 19 virus killing millions. Many cannot be intubated due to lack of opioid medication. Society is as lemmings, running toward the cliff.
Hoping Jesus will weigh in on the issue.
I have read that people are being intubated without either pain meds or tranqs. If this is true, how the hell is it substantively different from waterboarding, other than being drier??
I had brain surgery in 2015 and the day after getting out of the ICU – where I had a complication so bad that my nurse advocated for an induced coma because it was so painful – I asked my surgeon about pain medication to take home upon discharge. The response, and I quote: “We don’t do that.” I just had holes drilled in my skull, my brain cut into, complications, the very worst physical pain you can possibly imagine, and I was told that they have a policy of not giving pain medication. This is a neurosurgery practice! And during my time in the ICU, I was given very limited Dilaudid (which I told them upon admission doesn’t work for me, and I’d prefer a weaker medication rather than Dilaudid because despite the science of Dilaudid being stronger, it just doesn’t help me). They let me suffer in ways you’d be jailed for letting an animal suffer. My nurses were FURIOUS, both in ICU and when they realized I had no medication to take home. Things have only gotten worse in the three years since then. It’s outrageous. But let’s save those addicts, right? All lives are equally valuable, but patients are fully innocent; addicts have a choice in the end, we do not.
I have been on “opioids” for many years for chronic pain. I have to have the Dr. submit a new prescription every month, plus I have to take drug tests periodocally to make sure my meds are in ME. I am an old man, not a dealer and my quality of life would be intolerable w/o pain relief. . Due to oral surgery, the dentist prescribed a pain med which I had filled. Soon received a letter saying that my regular prescription would no longer be filled. My wonderful Gastroenterologist at the VA said she would advocate for me. We got it cleared up and all seems back to “normal”? My take on the “crisis” is that it is one manufactured by politicians so they can be heroes to their minions. “Look what we are doin for you folks, are we not great?” I know friends and relatives who have taken drugs to escape the shit storm, some of whom chose to die. R.I.P. my dears!
Are they going to do anything about how this “crisis” is affecting Intractable and chronic pain patients? Or are they going to turn a blind eye to that population in favor of in-hospital usage only? There are a lot of people who go home after chemo….
A friend’s friend had surgery last week in MA too remove a cyst from her intestines. She was given Ibuprofen 800.
Who were the sixteen? I’d like to call upon them as well!
To bad it has already happened and nothing is being done bout it.cancer and non cancer patients have been the only onrs effected by this bull opiate war.policy makers cannot lie and say its not happening or they don’t know bout it.they are choosing to ignore it.as they stand still because they don’t want to admit they went to far people out her are suffering, commiting suicide, losing ability to work or get out of bed,being abandoned by doctors, being treated like drug seekers and many more inconceivable tragities.but addicts are still overdosing and drug dealers are now targeting these forgotten and discriminated people.
Well it sound like we all need to call Senator Schumer office and let him know how this is effecting chronic pain patients. This could be the little window opening that could stop these insane policies that they are thinking about putting into pratice. This is not effecting just Cancer patient but every patient who need opiate pain relief. Dont let this opportunity pass us by. Call. If you had time enough to read Steve’s article you have enough time to call. Also call more then once.
Well if Schumer is so concerned he should ask the 16 Democrats that sponsored the bill to impose quotas reducing the supply of pain meds that hundreds of pain pts and doctors and scientist wrote letters begging the DEA to reconsider in 2017 because they predicted there would be shortages. Then the bill was augmented to further reduce the quotas in 2018 and 2019 further reducing supplies and increasing the risk of shortages in supplies of pain medications. There are often waiting periods before valid prescriptions can be filled at pharmacies across America due to this ridiculous DEA policy designed to strangle the supply of legitimate pain medications availability in American pharmacies.
Steve, thank you. Your articles are so informative. You give me hope when I want to give up. I see they have forced a good doctor into retirement. Dr Tennant will be missed.. Then I saw your article. We have to keep fighting.