PHARMACIST STEVE

There are few American left alive from when the seeds of the war on drugs was started with The Harrison Narcotic Act 1914

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Narcotics_Tax_Act

Whether it makes a difference or not, the Democrats were in the majority in both houses of Congress and Woodrow Wilson (D) signed it into law.  The driving force behind the law was racism and bigotry.   Three years later our “all knowing” court system ruled that being a opiate addict was a CRIME and no longer a disease. This was the turning point for prescribers to treat/maintain addicts… it became illegal and prescribers were threatened with prison for doing so.  This is where our bureaucracy created the “black drug market” to satisfy a certain per-cent of our population  demand for opiates

Several decades passed before the bureaucrats decided to “up their game”. Many of us have watched since the Controlled Substance Act was signed into law in 1970… the “screws” keep getting tightened on those who have a valid medical necessity for taking controlled substances.  Once again it was a Democratic controlled Congress that passed this law, which was signed into law by Pres Nixon (R)

Every succeeding administration and Congress seems to have put their own “additional touches” and/or allowed the DEA to have their “own head” in determining what, how, when they did what they wanted to do… reinterpreting the 1970 law to meet the agency’s agenda on any particular day.

It may be just a coincidence, but under the current administration, it would seem that the original war on drugs has turned into a war on pt and healthcare providers. Whipped up into almost a frenzy.

Some believe that writing to your congressional representative will get their attention, but how many have received letters from different members of Congress that have nearly identical paragraphs ?

Years ago, I received a reply to a letter to my Federal Senator.. first first was agreeing with me being in favor of the issue I had sent a letter about and the next day I received a letter from the same office agreeing with me being AGAINST the issue I had sent the original letter about.  This was not from a novice Senator, but one who had been in office for a couple of terms.  At that point is when I became very skeptical/cynical of our bureaucratic system.

Over the years, I have went to DC on numerous occasions with organized legislative days with different national associations that I have belonged to, as well as organized legislative days at the state level.   I have even went as far as meeting with my Federal Representative in a one to one meeting when they are back in their district.

Time and again, they all sound emphatic and understanding, but even following up with their Legislative Assistants (LA)… things tend to “drop off the edge”  and communication ceases.

Let’s face it… the only things that the members of Congress are concerned about is votes and getting donations to their re-election fund.  Lobbyists spend NINE MILLION/day – 7 days a week on Congress… that is abt $17,000.00 per member of Congress PER DAY.  Some claim that businesses that hire lobbyists get back $10 for every dollar invested in lobbying Congress.

DC is not the center of power to try and influence members of Congress.. members of Congress are back in their district several times a year… willing to make appts for a one to one meeting and/or having scheduled community meetings where they can be reached and a constituent can express their concerns.

There was a survey posted on one of the on line chronic pain newsletter that stated that 90% of the families with a chronic pain pts… were struggling financially because one spouse could not work and/or the cost of therapy puts a strain on the family’s finances.

This would suggest that trying to get chronic painers to come to a organized event some distance from the home, is probably futile because of the typical family’s poor financial status.

The chronic pain community’s most viable option is their ability to control who gets into office….by using their voting power… last presidential election.. there was 126 total votes cast… 5 million separated winner from loser.

How some of those from the “Republican establishment” have reacted to the nomination of Trump is very telling… unless one of “the establishment” gets nominated… they are not going to support the party that they are suppose to belong to… so it would appear that a member of the establishment getting into office  is all that is important… doesn’t matter which party they belong to… because they can only be in office for 4 to 8 yrs max.

Many forget that Congress operates on a seniority basis.. unless the entire seniority structure gets tossed out… there are enough in the middle of the seniority structure has been around long enough to have been indoctrinated in how “things are suppose to happen” and will pick up the baton and it will be back to business as usual.

Chronic painers don’t have to travel or incur any expenses to MAKE A DIFFERENCE… register to vote by mail and vote by mail… unless the chronic painer can’t afford a couple of stamps.. there is really no excuse … not to vote….

99% of those in Congress who run for reelection .. historically suggests that they will get reelected… causing a total disruption of this assured reelection will grant the chronic pain community POWER AND INFLUENCE.

We are trying to undo something that has 100+ yrs in its creation..  “flash in the pan” demonstrations/rally will DO NOTHING… the chronic pain community has to act like a SNIPER..  take ONE SHOT and TAKE THEM OUT !

Filed under: General Problems