Currently it is apparent there is an opioid epidemic in the USA, DEA has began prosecuting doctors for running practices in pain management for those with chronic pain / post op pain / acute pain care. They are changing policies, raiding docters offices and ultimately leaving patients stranded without care or in most cases unable to obtain the care they truly need. We are seeing more patients each year turn to the streets for unsafe pharmaceuticals on the black market, fueling our opioid pandemic wich in return lead to higher homeless and more unproductive members of society. In recent years it is believed a majority of patients are now being under prescribed as doctors fear prosecution become more of a reality, not only in chronic pain settings , but for post surgical care. The government needs to remove its reach from the health industry and allow doctors to treat their patients appropriately, so our most vulnerable seeking relief do not turn out of desperation to complete ADLs to street pharmaceuticals which only increases chances of patients becoming a static of the opioid pandemic that lines the pockets of cartels.
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I have been in the pain management sector for 24 years. I’m happy to be on any committee or advisory board to assist in establishing proper guidelines and providing firm boundaries for regulatory agencies and boards. Additionally, The Federation of State Medical Boards, individual state boards, DEA and FDA need to be consistent with their rules, laws and guidelines. For example, the DEA MATE training, if followed, will get a physician’s license suspended in many states. There needs to be a standard, but one that allows for physicians to individualize care on a patient by patient basis and do so without fear of government intervention or harassment.
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