CDC discusses guidelines to limit pain pill prescriptions
http://www.wesh.com/news/cdc-discusses-guidelines-to-limit-pain-pill-prescriptions/37322564
The head of the Centers for Disease Control said doctors need to cut back on the amount of pain killers they prescribe. The CDC is reworking the controversial guidelines, calling pain medication unproven and uncertain.
It’s the latest effort to try to combat the rise in pain killer addiction.
WESH 2 News Investigates spent the day with a local woman who suffers from chronic pain who said she spoke to the CDC to tell them they are wrong.
Link: Proposed 2016 Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
“I say I want to chop my legs off, that’s how bad it is,” said Diane Gracely of Ocala. She said prescription pain medication is the only thing that lets her live a normal life.
“Without having pain medicine, I’d basically be bed-bound,” Gracely said.
Gracely suffers from a painful neurological disorder. She had her neck fused and was hit by a drunk driver. Like thousands of pain patients across the state, she’s had needed prescriptions rejected.
Which is why she listened, for four hours, to a conference call with the Centers for Disease Control.
The CDC is reevaluating its proposed guidelines for doctors treating chronic pain patients after some, including the American Cancer Society and members of Congress, felt it would make it harder for legitimate patients to get their medication.
LINK: Draft CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
At least 20 pain patients spoke out, some worried insurance companies would deny coverage of medication that the CDC deemed unnecessary.
WESH 2 News was there when Gracely made her voice heard.
“Opioids are our last resort. We’ve been through physical therapy, injections, surgeries. You’re pushing more patients to the streets for drugs and causing more suicides,” Gracely told the CDC.
For its part, the CDC said it wants to turn around a prescription drug epidemic, saying its main priority is saving lives and reducing the number of deaths linked to prescription drugs.
Special Section: State of Pain
The director of the CDC said he believes the benefits of opioids for treating chronic pain are “unproven and uncertain.” For Gracely and her husband, Keith, who just had back surgery, the benefits are anything but.
“If it comes to a point where they take away my pain meds, I won’t be here no more. I will be one of the suicides,” Gracely said.
Related: CDC unveils proposed guidelines for controlled pain medication
The CDC formed a committee of doctors to evaluate the proposed guidelines.
Officials said the voices of patients living with chronic pain will be represented. The CDC is accepting public comment until Jan. 13.
Filed under: General Problems
I have followed WESH news and wish more TV stations would get involved in this. This is another reason we need to come together and form a public relations “department” and utilize press contacts for our advocacies.