tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66438159882417019612024-03-24T00:10:10.941-07:00Pain Crisis in Mohave County, and AmericaJay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-2567251683171462572023-08-27T16:39:00.006-07:002023-08-27T16:41:07.224-07:00Catch 22 No Help for Pain Patients - Emergency Room says You're an Addict - Community Health Services says You're a Pain Patient<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">Catch 22 No Help for Pain Patients - Emergency Room says You're an Addict - Community Health Services says You're a Pain Patient</span><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">When I went to Community Health Services AKA the Methadone Clinic in Kingman for help getting off my opioid pain medication. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">I told them I had tapered down from 450mgs of Morphine a day to 30 mgs but was having withdrawal symptoms after 12 hours. I had gone through several days of </span><span style="font-family: times;">withdrawals before giving up and taking my Morphine. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">They said it was Catch 22, federal law says they can't help because I told them I was a pain patient, and they can't treat pain patients. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">That didn't even make sense to me, if I was asking for pain management I could understand, but I wanted help getting off my pain medications. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">They told me to go to the emergency room, they would help me there, but I know that's BS.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: times;"> If a pain-patient goes to the emergency room for help, you're told they can't help because you're addicted, and they can't treat addicts. </span></span><span style="font-family: times;"> If a pain-patient goes to a</span><span style="font-family: times;"> Methadone clinic like </span><span style="font-family: times;">Community Health Services and mention the word pain, they</span><span style="font-family: times;"> tell you they can't help because you're a pain patient and they can't treat pain.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">WOW!!!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-87524917955363060682023-05-15T07:29:00.003-07:002023-05-15T07:29:57.658-07:00Are the simultaneous use of stimulants and opioids a superior combination for pain relief? History and science say yes....<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">History and science are pretty clear: <a href="https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/treatments/pharmacological/opioids/simultaneous-use-stimulants-opioids" target="_blank">the simultaneous use of stimulants and opioids</a> have, for over a century, been reported to be a superior combination for pain relief. So what's up?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">When I tell pain management physicians that ADD medications potentiate opioids, most just say ya they know, but they don't prescribe ADD medications.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4e59; letter-spacing: -0.252px;">It’s a puzzling situation. <a href="https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/treatments/pharmacological/opioids/simultaneous-use-stimulants-opioids" target="_blank">History and science are pretty clear</a>: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4e59; letter-spacing: -0.252px;">the simultaneous use of stimulants and opioids have, for over a century, been reported to be a superior combination for pain relief.¹ So, based on history, why isn’t every patient who’s taking opioids also taking a stimulant? </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4e59; letter-spacing: -0.252px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">For example, in 1977 the renowned analgesic researcher, William Forest, led a national cooperative study which clearly showed that a dose of dextroamphetamine with morphine increased morphine’s pain-relieving potency one and a half to two times.² Forest and colleagues posited that the great therapeutic benefit of the combination of dextroamphetamine and morphine wasn’t widely used because, “We suspect that the combination has not been accepted clinically at least, in part, because physicians do not want to subject their patients to the risk of abuse if these drugs (dextroamphetamine and morphine) are used.”</span></span></p><h1 class="display-header-1 PageHeader_title__s3Iy0" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #14161a; letter-spacing: -0.015em; line-height: 1.16667; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/treatments/pharmacological/non-opioids/status-report-role-stimulants-chronic-pain-management " target="_blank">Status Report on Role of Stimulants in Chronic Pain Management</a></span></h1><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #14161a;"><h2 class="PageHeader_description__84dqy display-standard" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--color-near-black); font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Stimulant administration in chronic pain patients may increase analgesia, improve mental and physical functions, and treat the comorbidities of fatigue, depression, daytime sedation, obesity, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).</span></div></h2></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4e59; letter-spacing: -0.252px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Regardless of terminology, stimulant or catecholaminergic compounds have an expanding role in pain management for a number of reasons. They have been shown to have innate analgesic properties, in addition to potentiating opioids, enhancing some mental and physiologic functions, and treating some common comorbidities of chronic pain, including fatigue, depression, daytime sedation, obesity, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4e59; font-family: times; font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: -0.252px;">Why Intractable </span><a href="https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2022/6/6/why-intractable-pain-treatment-requires-a-stimulant" style="background-color: white; font-family: times; font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: -0.252px;" target="_blank">Pain Treatment Requires a Stimulant</a></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Illicit <a href="https://www.clinicalpainadvisor.com/neuropathic-pain/stimulants-often-used-to-self-manage-chronic-pain-especially-in-women-or-neuropathic-pain/" target="_blank">Stimulant Use Common for Chronic Pain Management</a> in Women With Neuropathic Pain</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Roughly 35% of COPING participants reported illicit stimulant use in the past year; 37% of them used cocaine or crack cocaine, 31% had used methamphetamine (or speed), and 31% used both cocaine or crack cocaine and methamphetamine. Eight participants reported using prescription stimulants not prescribed to them, in addition to nonprescription stimulants during the study period.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-61576159636583433892021-02-14T06:20:00.000-08:002021-02-14T06:20:09.487-08:00Dr. Andrew Kolodny says young people should buy heroin on the street rather than pills...<p><span style="font-family: times;"> <a href="https://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/investigations/2014/05/17/painkiller-law-sends-addicts-heroin-cops/9133813/?sfns=mo&fbclid=IwAR25WBz3iMsGw9m39bcuffPb71rBZV5N__dQ710470ZMcfALHyVEQu2xung" style="font-size: 36px;" target="_blank">KILLERS AND PAIN: Painkiller law sends users to heroin</a></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #303030;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I really don't what to say except </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #303030; font-family: times; font-size: large;">Dr. Andrew Kolodny the chief medical officer of Phoenix House is a complete IDIOT!</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #303030; font-family: times; font-size: large;">In this article </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Kolodny </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #303030; font-family: times; font-size: large;">said, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>"Are we better off with that young opioid-addicted person using oxycodone than buying heroin on the street?"</i></b> said Dr. Andrew Kolodny, chief medical officer of Phoenix House, which operates treatment programs in 11 states. <b><i>"I would say we're better off them buying heroin on the street."</i></b></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><b><i> </i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">WOW a physician saying he would rather see people using heroin than getting medications from their physician</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I spent 15 years working undercover narcotics and I can tell you addicted </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">people</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"> are professional drug abusers. When it comes to pills they know what amount it takes to get high without overdosing, with heroin it's a crap shoot if they live or die.</span></p><p><br /></p>Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-36792422429480734632020-10-24T08:28:00.000-07:002020-10-24T08:28:02.832-07:00Just My Conspiracy Theory<p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Segoe UI Historic, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The CDC Pain Guidelines for Primary Care Physicians caused great injury and pain for thousands of patients. The timing of the Opioid Epidemic is suspicious to me. Everything about our nations War on Drugs is about money, always follow the money....</span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">We knew cutting the supply of pain medications to legitimate patients would drive patients to illegal street drugs. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">We knew </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">street drugs with unknown substances would cause more overdoses. </span></p><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anytime we talk about DEA keep in mind that before the "opioid epidemic" 70% of DEA business was marijuana and marijuana is becoming legal.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">DEA is a huge agency with 23 domestic field divisions with 222 field offices and 92 foreign offices in 70 countries. DEA has a budget exceeding $3 billion, and employs 10,169 people, including 4,924 Special Agents and 800 Intelligence Analysts.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I think it’s funny how the “opioid epidemic” came along just as DEA was losing the vast majority of their business. We knew that pushing legitimate patients to the streets would increases the need for cartels to smuggle more heroin and fentanyl into the US.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Because of the enormous profits in the drug trade more people were dragged into selling the cartels products. M</span><span style="font-size: large;">ore smugglers, </span><span style="font-size: large;">more drug dealers, and more "criminals" for DEA to arrest. The cartels drugs</span><span style="font-size: large;"> with unknown substances cause more overdoses</span><span style="font-size: large;"> that prove the need for more money for more enforcement and the war on drugs continues.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Segoe UI Historic, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We know a small percentage of people will always abuse drugs or alcohol for emotional reasons. But people will continue to become injured or suffer painful</span> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">disease and there will always be an increasing number of people who suffer chronic intractable pain looking for pain relief creating customers for pain management physicians or cartels. It's our choice because we know prohibition doesn't work. </span></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-13724051819970399662020-10-18T13:15:00.004-07:002020-10-18T21:11:59.125-07:00We keep Telling Them Prohibition Doesn't Work .. Now Meth is Back Because of ADD Meds<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> <span>It's simple prohibition doesn't work. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The CDC Pain Guidelines for Family Practice physicians set off the opioid crisis. Causing pain patients to be cut off and left to suffer or turn to the street. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span>Mexican cartels picked up the slack and now we have Fentanyl </span><span>that's</span><span> 50-100 times more potent than Morphine.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Many of these patients like the pain patients affected by the opioid crisis and cut off their medications will turn to the street. Sadly there is no quality control and who knows what they get when buying from drug dealers rather than their pharmacy. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Now physicians are cutting patients off or refusing to prescribe ADD medications for patients who have done well on their medications for many years.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span>Again </span><span>Mexican cartels will pick up the slack</span><span> making tons of meth in days. </span><span>Where I live they </span><span>stopped a car with <a href="https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/4-arrested-arizona-after-39m-worth-meth-found-car/W5G53MNM6ZBLNAXNRKALYNVOJU/">90 Pounds of Meth</a>, it was worth 3.9 million dollars. Another recent traffic stop netted 2200 pounds of meth in Phoenix. Big dent in the cartels business, right?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span>That 3.9 million works out to $43,333 a pound. One Mexican cartel meth lab produces </span><a href="https://www.wmtw.com/article/ive-never-seen-anything-like-it-drug-agent-goes-inside-mexican-meth-lab-where-cartels-are-making-drugs-destined-for-maine/28407367#" target="_blank">7 Tons Every 3 D</a><span><a href="https://www.wmtw.com/article/ive-never-seen-anything-like-it-drug-agent-goes-inside-mexican-meth-lab-where-cartels-are-making-drugs-destined-for-maine/28407367#" target="_blank">ays</a> thats 14,000 pounds of meth every 3 days. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span>That works out to</span><span> $606,662,000 every 3 days.</span><span> Multiply that by the number of meth labs the cartels have and you're talking billions of dollars. Only 10 labs would produce 6 billion dollars every 3 days, rounding it off it still works out to 600,000,000,000 that's six hundred billion dollars a year.... </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Now let's add all the profits from Fentanyl, Heroin, Cocaine, and Marijuana and see why we're loosing the war on drugs... </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-34663818286861251382020-02-09T06:47:00.000-08:002020-02-09T06:49:26.393-08:00Dr Feelgood Dealer or Healer a documentary on Dr Hurwitz<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 1996 I was one of Dr William Hurwitz patients when DEA went after him. Under </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">scrutiny he gave DEA all his patients names.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why didn't DEA just go after the bad patients and make examples of those who are selling their medications. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's not rocket science to stop by a pain patients home and ask to count their pills. No pills and high levels showing abuse, two choices. One, </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">go directly to jail; do not pass go, do not collect anything. Two, get help today with Dr Hurwitz help then gone....</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">we had the same fight we have today. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><u>WARNING Pain Patients Die in this Documentary </u></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">PLEASE watch Dr Feelgood Dealer or Healer a documentary on the best pain doc I ever had. It's on Hulu and I'm sure other places. <a href="https://www.hulu.com/movie/dr-feelgood-dealer-or-healer-5cb786ce-76eb-486d-8b9e-888f882edbca">LINK to Dr Feelgood</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Also learn the history of the fight for pain relief, too many innocents die. It's important so we don't make the same mistakes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Dr William Hurwitz YOU are MY Hero... Jay Fleming</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.aapsonline.org/painman/policestate.htm?fbclid=IwAR3lLZbgwmW8j0CL2KCe2-e2hU7uAss3G7N07rHPVMAzZOs18Ud9xOJ31Uk">This is Dr Hurwitz's story...</a></span></div>
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Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-81658193706224078232020-02-09T06:38:00.003-08:002020-02-09T06:38:37.515-08:00 I testified before the House Health Committee in support of a harm reduction bill. HB 2608<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
On January 6th I testified before the Arizona House Health Committee in support of harm reduction bill. HB 2608. This bill will help protect our first responders from needle sticks and the fear of HIV and Hepatitis-C.</div>
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First responders risk their lives everyday and this bill will help make one of the dangers they face everyday, a little less dangerous.</div>
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This bill is about protecting everyone from HIV and Hepatitis-C, especially our first responders</div>
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Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-39873594792167604622020-01-31T05:30:00.001-08:002020-01-31T05:30:57.062-08:00Why Did Arizona Repeal The Guidelines for the Use of Controlled Substances in 2014<br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why Did Arizona Repeal
their Pain Guidelines?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 1996 I was fighting
for my right to pain relief. an article was published in the Kingman Miner
about my fight for pain meds. In 1997 Arizona Medical Board published their
first guidelines for treating chronic pain.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Substantive Policy
Statement or SPS </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">#7 was published in
November 1997 as guidelines for physicians on how to treat chronic pain with
opioids without getting in trouble. SPS #7 was revised in May 1999, and then
revised again in June 2003. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then in December 2014
for some reason it was repealed. All guidance for physicians on how not to get
in trouble with the Arizona Medical Board or DEA for treating patients with
opioid medications was gone...</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why Did Arizona Repeal
their Pain Guidelines?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Regulations and Laws</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Physicians Need Guidance
on how to treat pain without fear</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Substantive Policy
Statement </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">#7 that was published
in November 1997 revised in May 1999, and June 2003. Then in December 2014 for
some reason the Arizona Medical Board repealed SPS #7 removing all guidance for
physicians on the treatment of chronic pain with controlled substances.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AZ Medical Board Substantive Policy Statement #7</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Use of Controlled Substances for the Treatment
of Chronic Pain<br />
<br />
This substantive policy statement is advisory only. A substantive policy
statement does not include internal procedural documents that only affect the
internal procedures of the agency and does not impose additional requirements
or penalties on regulated parties or include confidential information or rules
made in accordance with the Arizona administrative procedure act. If you
believe that this substantive policy statement does impose additional
requirements or penalties on regulated parties you may petition the agency
under Arizona Revised Statutes section 41-1033 for a review of the statement.<br />
<br />
ARIZONA MEDICAL BOARD<br />
<br />
9545 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258<br />
<br />
GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES FOR THE<br />
TREATMENT OF CHRONIC PAIN (SPS 7)<br />
<br />
<br />
The Arizona Medical Board (“Board”) strongly urges physicians to view effective
pain management as a high priority in all patients, including children and the
elderly. Pain should be assessed and treated promptly, effectively and for as
long as pain persists. The medical management of pain should be based on
up-to-date knowledge about pain, pain assessment and pain treatment. Pain
treatment may involve the use of several drug and nondrug treatment modalities,
often in combination. For some types of pain the use of drugs is emphasized and
should be pursued vigorously; for other types, the use of drugs is better
de-emphasized in favor of other therapeutic modalities. Physicians should have
sufficient knowledge or consultation to make such judgments for their patients.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Drugs, in particular the opioid analgesics, are considered the cornerstone of
treatment for pain associated with trauma, surgery, medical procedure and
cancer. Physicians are referred to the U.S. Agency for Health Care Policy and
Research Clinical Practice Guidelines as a sound yet flexible approach to the
management of these types of pain.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The prescribing of opioid analgesics for other patients with intractable
non-cancer pain also may be beneficial, especially when efforts to remove the
cause of pain or to treat it with other modalities have been unsuccessful. For
the purposes of these guidelines, intractable pain is defined as:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
A pain state in which the cause of the pain cannot be removed or otherwise
treated and which in the generally accepted course of medical practice no
relief or cure of the cause of the pain is possible or none has been found
after reasonable efforts including, but not limited to, evaluation by the
attending physician and surgeon and one or more physicians and surgeons
specializing in the treatment of the area, system or organs of the body
perceived as the source of the pain.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Therefore, these guidelines are an attempt to communicate to physicians who
prescribe opioids for intractable pain not to fear disciplinary action from
this Board for prescribing or administering controlled substances in the course
of treatment of a person for intractable pain. Also, physicians should use
sound clinical judgment, and care for their patients according to the following
principles of responsible professional practice.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I. STATUTORY ABILITY TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES<br />
Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes § 32-1403(A)(3), the Board may develop and
recommend standards governing the profession in Arizona.<br />
II. GUIDELINES FOR PATIENT CARE WHEN PRESCRIBING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES FOR
CHRONIC PAIN<br />
A) Pain Assessment<br />
Pain assessment should occur during initial evaluation, after each new report
of pain, at appropriate intervals after each pharmacological intervention, and
at regular intervals during treatment. Unless a patient is terminally ill and
death is imminent (in which case the diagnosis is usually evident and
diagnostic evaluations may be of little value and discomforting to the
patient), the evaluation should include:<br />
1. Medical history, including the presence of a recognized medical indication
for the use of a controlled substance, the intensity and character of pain, and
questions regarding substance abuse;<br />
2. Corroboration of medical history by reviewing patient’s medical records
and/or speaking with patient’s former physicians. Patients frequently seek out
a new prescribing physician after their previous prescribing physician has
terminated them for non-compliance, substance abuse, and/or drug diversion;<br />
3. Psycho-social assessment, which may include but is not limited to: <br />
<br />
a. The patient's understanding of the medical diagnosis, expectations about
pain relief and pain management methods, concerns regarding the use of
controlled substances, and coping mechanisms for pain; <br />
b. Changes in mood which have occurred secondary to pain (i.e., anxiety,
depression); and <br />
c. The meaning of pain to the patient and his/her family.<br />
4. Physical examination, including a neurologic evaluation and examination of
the site of pain.<br />
5. Urine drug screen, testing for commonly abused street drugs as well as
prescription pain drugs that are known abused or diverted drugs. Such screening
will help identify drug abusers and drug diverters.<br />
B) Treatment Plan<br />
A treatment plan should be developed for the management of chronic pain and
state objectives by which therapeutic success can be evaluated, including:<br />
1. Pain relief; <br />
<br />
2. Improved physical functioning; <br />
<br />
3. Proposed diagnostic evaluations (i.e., blood tests, radiologic,
psychological and social studies such as CAT and bone scans, MRI and
neurophysiologic examinations such as electromyography); and <br />
<br />
4. Analysis of inclusion and exclusion criteria for opioid management:
Inclusion criteria includes a clear diagnosis consistent with symptoms, all
reasonable alternative therapies have been explored; the patient is reliable
and communicates well, there has been informed consent or a treatment agreement
signed; Potential exclusion criteria include a history of chemical dependency,
major psychiatric disorder, chaotic social situation, or a planned pregnancy.<br />
C) Informed Consent<br />
The physician should advise the patient, guardian, or designated surrogate of
the risks and benefits of the use of controlled substances. The patient should
be counseled on the importance of regular visits, the impact of recreational
drug use, the number of physicians and pharmacies used for prescriptions, taking
medications as prescribed, etc.<br />
The physician and the patient should enter into a pain treatment contract that
specifically states the patient’s required compliance with the treatment plan
and what the consequences of non-compliance, misuse and abuse will be. It is
particularly important that patients understand that they will be discontinued
from the prescribed controlled substances, in a safe manner, should it be
revealed that they are abusing or diverting drugs.<br />
D) Ongoing Assessment<br />
The assessment and treatment of chronic pain mandates continuing evaluation,
and if necessary, modification and/or discontinuation of opioid therapy. If
clinical improvement does not occur, the physician should consider the
appropriateness of continued opioid therapy, and consider a trial of
alternative pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic modalities.<br />
E) Consultation<br />
The physician should refer the patient as necessary for additional evaluation
to achieve treatment objectives. Physicians should recognize patients requiring
individual attention, in particular, patients whose living situations pose a
risk for misuse or diversion of controlled substances. In addition, the
prescription of controlled substances to patients with a history of substance
abuse requires extra care, monitoring, and documentation, and may also require
consultation with an addiction medicine specialist.<br />
F) Documentation<br />
The physician must maintain adequate, accurate and timely records regarding
items A-E from above. "Adequate Records," pursuant to A.R.S. º32-1401(2),
"means legible records containing, at a minimum, sufficient information to
identify the patient, support the diagnosis, justify the treatment, adequately
document the results, indicate advice and cautionary warnings provided to the
patient, and provide sufficient information for another practitioner to assume
continuity of the patient's care at any point in the treatment." Specific
to chronic pain patients, the documentation should include:<br />
1. The medical history and physical examination; <br />
2. Related evaluations and consultations, treatment plan and objectives; <br />
3. Evidence of discussion regarding informed consent; <br />
4. Prescribed medications and treatments;<br />
5. Periodic reviews of treatments and patient response; and <br />
6. Any physician-patient agreements or contracts.<br />
G. Counting and Destroying Medication<br />
The physician may desire to see and count a patient’s medication to determine
if the patient is taking the medication as prescribed. The patient should
display and count the medication in front of the physician. Under no
circumstance should the physician touch a patient’s controlled substances. If
the medication must be destroyed, the patient should flush the medication down
the toilet in the physician’s presence. The physician should document this fact
in the patient’s chart.<br />
H. Post-Dated Prescriptions<br />
Post-dated prescriptions are illegal in the State of Arizona. Therefore,
physicians may not issue post-dated prescriptions.<br />
I. Referral of Patients with Active Substance Abuse Problems<br />
Patients discovered to have an active substance abuse problem should be
referred to either a detoxification and rehabilitation program or to an
appropriate maintenance program for addicts.<br />
III. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS<br />
A. Prescribing Controlled Substances<br />
To prescribe controlled substances, physicians must comply with all applicable
laws, including the following:<br />
1. Possess a valid current license to practice medicine in the State of
Arizona; and<br />
2. Possess a valid and current controlled substances Drug Enforcement
Administration registration for the schedules being prescribed.<br />
B. Dispensing Controlled Substances<br />
To dispense controlled substances, physicians must comply with all applicable
laws, including the following:<br />
1. Possess a valid current license to practice medicine in the State of
Arizona;<br />
2. Possess a valid and current controlled substances Drug Enforcement
Administration registration for the schedules being prescribed;<br />
3. Comply with Arizona Revised Statutes § 32-1491, et seq. and A.A.C. R4-16-201
through R4-16-205; and<br />
4. Comply with 22 CFR 1306.07(a) if controlled substances are dispensed for
detoxification.</span></div>
<br />Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-34169371047792326232019-12-19T17:49:00.001-08:002019-12-19T17:49:08.926-08:00FDA Warns of 'Serious' Respiratory Problems With GabapentinGabapentin a drug given many pain patients that is known for making patients aggressive is now causing respiratory problems according to this Medscape article <a href="https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/922932">FDA Warns of 'Serious' Respiratory Problems With Gabapentin</a><br />
<br />
If you take Gabapentin or know someone who does, please share this with them.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-20432037984584546952019-08-12T08:48:00.002-07:002019-08-12T08:48:23.547-07:00Cocaine and Meth Related Overdoses on the Rise.... Just My Opinion<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Just My Opinion...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I've been speaking on drug policy for 16 years or so and I keep telling people that overdoses are caused by blackmarket drugs, but nobody gets it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">According to the article in <a href="https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2019/aug/7/stimulant_overdoses_rising">The Drug War Chronicle</a> the annual number of drug overdose deaths is still more than 68,000. The majority of these are from various drug mixtures that include Fentanyl.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">While working undercover in the 70's and 80's </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I saw quite a few people shoot up. If they had a know product whether pill or powder, they knew how much to use. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The problem came when a new batch or product came to town. If it was heroin was it 30% or did someone really score and is it 90%? If you have ever been around people who abuse drugs they think if one pill is good then 2 or 3 must be better. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some of these guys didn't even know what they were taking. Billy told Donny he had some pills he was going to sell. Donny aked to see them, so Billy pulled out a few. Before Billy could say they were his sisters birth control pills he was going to sell to a high school kid, Donny ate 5 of them.... </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Like I said, s</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">ome of these guys didn't even know what they were taking. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My point is many people who abuse drugs don't make good decisions. When testing the heroin someone would usually take the normal amount they use because they want to get high. If the tester lives or dies, the others have a starting point.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;">Eleven states and Washington, DC, have now legalized marijuana for recreational use for adults over 21, and 33 states have legalized medical marijuana.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111;">People who sell black market marijuana usually don't mess with selling other types of drugs. But with marijuana becoming legal and DEA's new opioid epidemic forcing patient to the street as they're doses are cut or stopped all together black market sellers have switched to heroin or Fentanyl containing products.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111;">The </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">black market sellers of heroin usually don't have a problem with being a poly-drug dealer, so adding cocaine or meth to heroin isn't a big deal for them.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">I told everyone several months back that Cocaine was going to be the next big Drug Epidemic I don't see the cartels adding meth but it makes good business sense.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Powered drug overdoses will level off or increase over the next two years and then slow, it will be education and not enforcement that lowers the overdose level. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-27440484840326030172019-07-26T10:05:00.000-07:002019-07-26T10:05:02.779-07:00Who is Doctor Timothy Munzing? Why Does DEA Pay Him Over $300,000 a year?Every pain patient needs to know this guys name and share it with others. Point out how much he make sending good doctors to prison using fake news and false testimony... Jay<br />
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This is part of an article from Doctors of Courage read the rest here <a href="https://doctorsofcourage.org/the-pain-news-network-shields-doctor-forest-tennant-calling-deas-expert-dr-timothy-munzing-unaware-and-ignorant/">The Pain News Network Shields Doctor Forest Tennant Calling DEA’s Expert Dr. Timothy Munzing Unaware and Ignorant</a><br />
<a href="https://doctorsofcourage.org/the-pain-news-network-shields-doctor-forest-tennant-calling-deas-expert-dr-timothy-munzing-unaware-and-ignorant/"><br /></a>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px;">Who is Doctor Timothy Munzing? Dr. Munzing is a self-proclaimed </span><a href="http://www.mbc.ca.gov/Enforcement/Expert_Reviewer/" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0b50bf; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">expert witness</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px;"> for the DEA and other government agencies, like the Medical Board of California. Expert witnesses for the DEA and the Medical Boards are paid for their services and their </span><br />
<img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4970" data-attachment-id="4970" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="timothy munzin" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/doctorsofcourage.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/timothy-munzin.jpg?fit=293%2C400&ssl=1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/doctorsofcourage.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/timothy-munzin.jpg?fit=220%2C300&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/doctorsofcourage.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/timothy-munzin.jpg?fit=293%2C400&ssl=1" data-orig-size="293,400" data-permalink="https://doctorsofcourage.org/the-pain-news-network-shields-doctor-forest-tennant-calling-deas-expert-dr-timothy-munzing-unaware-and-ignorant/timothy-munzin/" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" sizes="(max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px" src="https://i0.wp.com/doctorsofcourage.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/timothy-munzin.jpg?resize=220%2C300&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/doctorsofcourage.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/timothy-munzin.jpg?resize=220%2C300&ssl=1 220w, https://i0.wp.com/doctorsofcourage.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/timothy-munzin.jpg?w=293&ssl=1 293w" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; float: left; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px; height: auto; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" width="220" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px;">testimony is based on </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px;">investigative narratives. There are a lot of good expert witnesses who are honest and objective about how they review cases against doctors, but there are just a many crooked so-called expert witness doctors who would knowingly testify to harm other doctors and people in general, using false testimony. In this case, I believe Dr. Timothy Munzing’s evaluation and findings are based on what the DEA wants him to find and say. The Pain News Network hits the donkey right on the tail; Dr. Munzing is not only unfamiliar with Dr. </span><a href="http://foresttennant.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0b50bf; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Tennant’s practice</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px;">, but he is not an honest expert witness because he tends to follow narratives given to him by the prosecution, instead of following what he know is ethical and correct. Experts like Dr. Munzing are responsible for jailing thousands of U.S. doctors, calling them drug dealers and associating their practices with the black market, a false, “fake news” narrative that has been widely debunked and exposed.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px;">Doctor Michael Schatman, a</span><a href="https://www.dovepress.com/pain-management-prescription-opioid-mortality-and-the-cdc-is-the-devil-peer-reviewed-article-JPR" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0b50bf; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> research specialist</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px;">in pain management, exposed a national scheme by the Drug Distributors who control the CDC, DEA, Medical Boards, and Congressional Members like</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px;"> </span><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/17/558276546/tom-marino-trumps-pick-as-drug-czar-withdraws-after-damaging-opioid-report" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0b50bf; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Tom Morino</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px;">; this is a scheme to criminalize medicine and call doctors drug dealers and their patients addicts. This scheme involved creating a “Fake” opioid prescription pill crisis and thousands of overdose deaths blamed on doctors when the fact shows that 90 percent of overdose deaths in the United States are caused by illegal drugs pouring into this country from China and other countries. The</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px;"> </span><a href="http://www.history.com/news/americas-war-on-drugs-was-designed-to-fail-so-why-is-it-being-revived-now" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0b50bf; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">DEA has been criticized</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Averia Sans Libre", display; font-size: 15px;">from its inability to stop illegal drugs for hitting the streets in this country and under the guidance and control of the Drug Distributors, the DEA has launched its war against U.S. Trained doctors for treating legitimate people with valid pain problems.</span>Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-1380216042646421872019-07-26T09:53:00.002-07:002019-07-26T09:53:55.021-07:00Kingman Regional Medical Center ER Did Great This Time..<span style="font-size: large;">If you read my blog you know I haven't had very good luck at the Kingman Regional Medical Center ER. But when my wife went there the other day they were great. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She told them she was tired of being treated like a drug addict or drug seeker because she takes pain medications. They said they were sorry for how she had been treated and </span><span style="font-size: large;">asked her if she would give their team a chance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She did, and she said everybody from the doctors to the nurses and tech people did a great job and treated her with respect.They treated her pain, did the testing to find a diagnosis, and got her on some medications to take care of the problem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope the </span><span style="font-size: large;">Kingman Regional Medical Center Emergency Department is changing for the better in the way they treat pain patients. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for treating my wife with respect...</span><br />
<br />Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-45243401351183853002019-07-18T09:25:00.002-07:002019-07-18T09:29:32.880-07:00🆘 URGENT, PLEASE READ TAKE ACTION Contact Your Representativess 🆘<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Josefin Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px;">
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The AMA has finally passed resolutions in an attempt to fix the damage done to patients by the CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids... Please Read and Share<br />
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-7u x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-7s x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-style: italic;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">AMA RESOLUTIONS: </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">1. </span><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-7u x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">RESOLVED</span></span><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;"> that our AMA affirms that some patients with acute or chronic pain can benefit from taking opioids at greater dosages than recommended by the CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for chronic pain and that such care may be medically necessary and appropriate. </span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">2. </span><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-7u x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">RESOLVED</span></span><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;"> that AMA advocate against the misapplication of the CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids by pharmacists, health insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, legislatures, and governmental and private regulatory bodies in ways that prevent or limit access to opioid analgesia</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">3. </span><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-7u x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">RESOLVED</span></span><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;"> that our AMA advocate that no entity should use MME (morphine milligram equivalents) thresholds as anything more than guidance, and physicians should not be subject to professional discipline, loss of board certification, loss of clinical privileges, criminal prosecution, civil liability, or other penalties or practice limitations solely for prescribing opioids at a quantitative level above the MME thresholds found in the CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids.</span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">At its interim meeting in Maryland last week, the <span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-7u x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">AMA House of Delegates adopted a series of resolutions that recognize the mistreatment of pain patients</span></span> and call for restraint in implementing the CDC guideline – particularly as it applies to the agency’s maximum recommended dose of 90mg MME (morphine milligram equivalent units).</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">This CAN be AMAZING & life changing news, IF it gets into the hands of those who are limiting our doctor’s ability to prescribe opioid pain medication!</span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">These are the FULLY RESOLVED AMA resolutions contained in their report. Resolution 235 is regarding the Misuse of the 2016 CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids! </span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a class="x-el x-el-a c1-1 c1-1r c1-7r c1-1d c1-7y c1-7u c1-19 c1-1a c1-1v c1-1w c1-b c1-7z x-d-ux" href="https://netorgft4147510-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/fightingpaindaily_painwarriorsunite_com/EYBdeKsVZE9Dk4DKjfrfk3oBIchQiNbRPU16RsnId-it3A" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #460874; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: unset; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-transform: inherit;" target="_blank"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">CLICK HERE FOR QUICK OVERVIEW OF AMA RESOLUTIONS</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">Below is the full version of the AMA report. Please see Resolution #235 on pages 24-25.</span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a class="x-el x-el-a c1-1 c1-1r c1-7r c1-1d c1-7y c1-7u c1-19 c1-1a c1-1v c1-1w c1-b c1-7z x-d-ux" href="https://netorgft4147510-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/fightingpaindaily_painwarriorsunite_com/EcSK63uRuWNJhNjL8OtZyRsByimQlWLWAYtGmaW5tSWBSg" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #460874; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: unset; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-transform: inherit;" target="_blank">Full Version of (AMA) American Medical Association's Preliminary Report of Actions taken by the House of Delegates (Pages of Interest 24 and 25)<span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;"> </span></a></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">**** Attention ALL CPP'S ****</span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">In order to expedite & use this information to our advantage, we need YOU to take the following steps:</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Josefin Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">We need every single pain patient and advocate to CALL their state and federal representatives including Governors Office, State Medical Board, State Narcotics Board, and State Attorney Generals and ask them for an ACTIVE email address (or their health staffers email) AND tell them to expect an extremely important resolution by the AMA about the CDC Guidelines. </span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">Once you have a list of all the email addresses, please copy & paste the FORM LETTER below to email each of them. A few days after sending the emails, please call back to follow up and confirm that the email was received and forwarded to the correct person or department. </span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a class="x-el x-el-a c1-1 c1-1r c1-7r c1-1d c1-7y c1-7u c1-19 c1-1a c1-1v c1-1w c1-b c1-7z x-d-ux" href="https://netorgft4147510-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/fightingpaindaily_painwarriorsunite_com/EUyKn93ITaFPt9MVGZQOSBYBeRkZ5P5rW8ezX0CQx8T9sw" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #460874; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: unset; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-transform: inherit;" target="_blank"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-7u x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">CLICK HERE to access the FORM LETTER to send this URGENT information to your State and Federal Representatives </span></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO FIND & CONTACT YOUR STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES & GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IS LISTED BELOW FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE:</span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a class="x-el x-el-a c1-1 c1-1r c1-7r c1-1d c1-7y c1-7u c1-19 c1-1a c1-1v c1-1w c1-b c1-7z x-d-ux" href="http://bit.ly/FedCongressHealthEmails" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #460874; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: unset; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-transform: inherit;" target="_blank"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">Here is a link to locate your Federal Representatives, Senators & Governors with phone numbers and their health staffers email addresses.</span></a><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a class="x-el x-el-a c1-1 c1-1r c1-7r c1-1d c1-7y c1-7u c1-19 c1-1a c1-1v c1-1w c1-b c1-7z x-d-ux" href="http://bit.ly/ContactStateLegs" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #460874; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: unset; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-transform: inherit;" target="_blank"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">Link to Contact Your State Legislators</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a class="x-el x-el-a c1-1 c1-1r c1-7r c1-1d c1-7y c1-7u c1-19 c1-1a c1-1v c1-1w c1-b c1-7z x-d-ux" href="http://bit.ly/Contacts4StateAttorneyGeneral" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #460874; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: unset; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-transform: inherit;" target="_blank"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">Link to find your State Attorney General contact information</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a class="x-el x-el-a c1-1 c1-1r c1-7r c1-1d c1-7y c1-7u c1-19 c1-1a c1-1v c1-1w c1-b c1-7z x-d-ux" href="https://www.nascsa.org/nascsa/stateProfilesALL_list.php" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #460874; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: unset; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-transform: inherit;" target="_blank"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">Link to find your State Controlled Substance/Narcotics Board</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">———————————————————</span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-7r c1-b c1-4c x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 600;">There are also a couple of other resolutions that refer to prescribing, mostly in regards to Opioid Use Disorder (Methadone specifically) it would benefit everyone to be educated.</span></span></div>
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<br />Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-81400014825739359252019-07-09T13:31:00.004-07:002019-07-09T13:31:38.835-07:00The State of Rhode Island is addressing the damage done by the CDC Pain Treatment Guidelines PLEASE SHARE<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The State of Rhode Island is addressing </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">the damage done by the CDC Pain Treatment Guidelines </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">PLEASE SHARE</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f0f0f0;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.rilegislature.gov/&source=gmail&ust=1562790292617000&usg=AFQjCNF3cb8gmbv_SX3VK5-zv4g-u1XBVA" href="http://www.rilegislature.gov/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><b>State of Rhode Island</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f0f0f0;">6/20/2019</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f0f0f0;"><b>Rep. Amore bill that excludes chronic intractable pain from medication prescribing guidelines passed by House</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f0f0f0;">STATE HOUSE – Rep. Gregg Amore’s (D-Dist. 65, East Providence) legislation (<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText19/HouseText19/H5434A.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1562790292617000&usg=AFQjCNF7UxcfnHwCJfTPFXjHrMlqLW54ZA" href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText19/HouseText19/H5434A.pdf" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">2019-H 5434A</span></a>) <b>that would exclude chronic intractable pain</b> from the definition of “acute pain management” <b>for the purposes of prescribing opioid medication</b> was passed by the House of Representatives.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f0f0f0;"><b>“We want to make sure that our public policy in regard to addressing the opioid crisis does not have the unintended consequence of hurting patients who are trying to manage chronic pain.</b> <b>These patients are not addicts, they are suffering with pain associated with cancer, palliative care, and in many cases, chronic intractable pain. We need to let physicians determine how best to manage their patients’ pain,” said Representative Amore.</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f0f0f0;">Chronic intractable pain is defined as pain that is excruciating, constant, incurable, and of such severity that it dominates virtually every conscious moment. It also produces mental and physical debilitation and may produce a desire to commit suicide for the sole purpose of stopping the pain.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f0f0f0;"><b>The bill calls for new guidelines for the treatment of chronic intractable pain be based upon the consideration of the individualized needs of patients suffering from chronic intractable pain. The legislation acknowledges that every patient and their needs is different, especially those suffering from chronic pain.</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f0f0f0;">The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f0f0f0;">For more information, contact:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f0f0f0;"><a href="mailto:'acaruolo@.rilegislature.gov'" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Andrew Caruolo</a></span><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; color: #424037;">, Publicist</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f0f0f0;">State House Room 20</span></div>
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(401)222-6124</div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_layouts/RIL.PressRelease.ListStructure/Forms/DisplayForm.aspx?List%3Dc8baae31-3c10-431c-8dcd-9dbbe21ce3e9%26ID%3D370434%26fbclid%3DIwAR3F-013Z8RlL7aYQMCHIrJM2TfgVRLuAjE13osplZBHJ3e5UPbHXHI-vG4&source=gmail&ust=1562790292617000&usg=AFQjCNHZUeH4gHXeVrqrsGAroC4gCbbILw" href="http://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_layouts/RIL.PressRelease.ListStructure/Forms/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31-3c10-431c-8dcd-9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=370434&fbclid=IwAR3F-013Z8RlL7aYQMCHIrJM2TfgVRLuAjE13osplZBHJ3e5UPbHXHI-vG4" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.rilegislature.gov/<wbr></wbr>pressrelease/_layouts/RIL.<wbr></wbr>PressRelease.ListStructure/<wbr></wbr>Forms/DisplayForm.aspx?List=<wbr></wbr>c8baae31-3c10-431c-8dcd-<wbr></wbr>9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=370434&fbclid=<wbr></wbr>IwAR3F-<wbr></wbr>013Z8RlL7aYQMCHIrJM2TfgVRLuAjE<wbr></wbr>13osplZBHJ3e5UPbHXHI-vG4</a></div>
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Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-65350872769340668322019-07-03T07:52:00.002-07:002019-07-03T07:52:15.658-07:00Do No Harm... Physicians Just Don't Get It<h1 class="article-title" style="-webkit-box-ordinal-group: 3; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Condensed", arial, helvetica, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 2.8125rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; order: 2; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://www.abc4.com/news/family-says-pleasant-grove-man-committed-suicide-after-going-off-pain-meds-too-quickly/?fbclid=IwAR1rGO-zAubB8LKzmec1hH7_jtWhRzX2YLCubtgRmbuTQ-mV5P8GFD94aI4">Family says Pleasant Grove man committed suicide after going off pain meds too quickly</a></h1>
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<a href="https://www.abc4.com/news/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">NEWS</a></div>
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Utah lobbyist works with lawmakers to stop "force-tapering"</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If someone abuses opioids and overdose it sad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If someone ends their life for lack of pain control, that's a tragedy </span></div>
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<br />Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-69665408258168677372019-07-03T07:15:00.006-07:002019-07-03T07:15:55.242-07:00Stop persecuting doctors for legitimately prescribing opioids for chronic pain<span style="font-size: large;">It's time we stop treating physicians like drug dealers...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Must read Article from Stat News</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/2019/06/28/stop-persecuting-doctors-legitimately-prescribing-opioids-chronic-pain/comment-page-10/#comments"><br /></a></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.statnews.com/2019/06/28/stop-persecuting-doctors-legitimately-prescribing-opioids-chronic-pain/comment-page-10/#comments">Stop persecuting doctors for legitimately prescribing opioids for chronic pain</a></span><br />
<br />Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-89494987781618195042019-06-04T08:26:00.001-07:002019-06-04T08:26:23.930-07:00I Understand<span style="font-size: large;">I understand why pain patients give up. You get to a level of meds that work and you can get out and do things, then it get taken away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It just get's old so I understand why people just give up the fight....</span>Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-39415232800261764222019-05-02T14:00:00.001-07:002019-05-02T14:00:46.539-07:00Pain Patients Sample Civil Rights Complaint U.S. Department of Health and Human Services<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">If you feel you have been discriminated against by a pain management physician, please file a complaint with</span><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Office </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">for Civil Rights. If your pain medications were force tapered or stopped all </span>together with little to no justification<span style="font-family: inherit;">, file a complaint.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21.4667px;">Recently a settlement between the United States </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">of America and Selma Medical Associates Inc. under the Americans with Disabilities Act DJ # 202-80-64 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><a href="https://www.ada.gov/selma_medical_sa.html">https://www.ada.gov/selma_medical_sa.html</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Civil
Rights Complaint Sample<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Office for Civil
Rights<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Disability Rights
Section<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">200 Independence
Avenue, SW<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Room 509F, HHH
Building<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Washington, D.C. 20201<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Civil Rights Complaint RE: Dr
<span style="background-color: black;">Benjamin </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">123 That Street<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ft Mohave, AZ 86426<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was a patient of Dr <span style="background-color: black;">Venger </span><em><span style="color: #311c1c; font-style: normal;"> from 2010 to 2017 including several months working as his compliance
officer. I feel b</span></em>y reducing my pain medication without
medical justification Dr <span style="background-color: black;">Venger </span> caused significant pain and
suffering, lowered <span style="background: white;">my ability to function
and decreased my quality of life</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dr <span style="background-color: black;">Venger </span><em><span style="font-style: normal;"> discriminated against me </span></em>by f<span style="background: white;">ailing to provide services or items reasonable and
necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain from injury and to
improve my functioning and quality of life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By reducing my level
of narcotic pain medication including morphine without medical justification </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dr
<span style="background-color: black;">Venger </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> failed to</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> alleviate severe pain</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> by not taking into
account my physical dependence and tolerance to opioids and therefore failed to
take </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">reasonable and necessary steps to prevent significant
disability and alleviate severe pain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">The </span></em><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">across the board
reduction of opioid pain medications by </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dr <span style="background-color: black;">Venger</span><em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></em></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">failed to consider the medical needs of the individual patient</span><em><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;"> causing
significant pain and suffering for me as well as </span></em><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">other patients who
were being treated with pain medications including controlled substances </span><em><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">narcotics.<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">Arizona Medical
Board Complaint</span></em><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
MD-17-</span><span style="background: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">0722A</span><em><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">In July 2017 I
filed complaint number </span></em><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">MD-17-</span><span style="background: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">0722A</span><em><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;"> with the Arizona
Medical Board. Before becoming disabled I spent a number of years in<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: black;">law
enforcement</span> working <span style="background-color: black;">undercover narcotics. </span>Because of my background I recorded
visits with Dr <span style="background-color: black;">Venger </span>so there was no discrepancy on what was said during
visits. I included the audio recordings in my complaint to the Arizona Medical
Board.<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I feel I was discriminated against by may pain management physician and here is a copy of my complaint. If you feel your physician did the wrong thing by reducing or stopping your pain medications, file a complaint.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope it helps.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jay</span></span></div>
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<br />Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-16658127180432437072019-05-02T07:04:00.001-07:002019-05-02T07:08:33.420-07:00CDC Say it's Opioid Guideline Should Not Be Used to Abruptly Taper or Suddenly Discontinue Opioids<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica";">The Pain News Network Reports CDC Back Peddles on Opioid Guideline............</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica";"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica";">The authors of the 2016 CDC opioid guideline say</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "helvetica";"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://PainNewsNetwork.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D4337f1b589a809413c75c98f1%26id%3D6a2327431f%26e%3Dd40a8e34a2&source=gmail&ust=1556883005671000&usg=AFQjCNGcE1j8jLFk42E1pX1p9aT_0Go1bw" href="https://painnewsnetwork.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4337f1b589a809413c75c98f1&id=6a2327431f&e=d40a8e34a2" style="background-color: white; color: #6dc6dd; font-family: Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><span style="color: mediumblue;">it should not be used to abruptly taper or suddenly discontinue opioid pain medication.</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="color: #606060;"> </span>The agency's long awaited "clarification" was cheered by some patient advocates, while others wondered why it took the CDC so long to act amid widespread reports of patient harm.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: mediumblue; font-family: "helvetica"; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://PainNewsNetwork.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D4337f1b589a809413c75c98f1%26id%3Dc41b2a8635%26e%3Dd40a8e34a2&source=gmail&ust=1556883005671000&usg=AFQjCNF1-QWs3wI8_h1nQZa7c4inpl68iw" href="https://painnewsnetwork.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4337f1b589a809413c75c98f1&id=c41b2a8635&e=d40a8e34a2" style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">It's not clear what the CDC will do next to address the misapplication of the guideline</a> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica";">by states, doctors, insurers, pharmacists and law enforcement agencies.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica";"><a href="https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2019/4/24/cdc-opioid-guideline-should-not-be-used-to-taper-patients">READ the Whole Story HERE</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "helvetica";"><br /></span></span>Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-45008963417606780722019-04-11T08:15:00.001-07:002019-04-11T08:15:08.164-07:00TWO FEDERAL AGENCIES SPEAK AGAINST MANDATED OR PRECIPITOUS OPIOID REDUCTIONS IN CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS <div style="background-color: #f6f6f6; box-sizing: inherit; color: #575757; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-3 c1-c c1-d c1-e c1-f x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-3 c1-6k c1-c c1-4b x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 700;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 10, 2019</span></span></div>
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<span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-3 c1-c c1-d c1-e c1-f x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></div>
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<span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-3 c1-c c1-d c1-e c1-f x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-3 c1-6k c1-c c1-4b x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 700;">TWO FEDERAL AGENCIES SPEAK AGAINST MANDATED OR PRECIPITOUS OPIOID REDUCTIONS IN CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS </span></span></div>
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<span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-3 c1-c c1-d c1-e c1-f x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-3 c1-6k c1-c c1-4b x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-3 c1-c c1-d c1-e c1-f x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-3 c1-6k c1-c c1-4b x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">On April 10, the Director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield, wrote to Health Professionals for Patients in Pain (HP3) to state that the CDC’s 2016 </span><a class="x-el x-el-a c1-1 c1-2 c1-3 c1-1c c1-1d c1-6k c1-1e c1-2u c1-6n c1-1h c1-1i c1-c c1-2t x-d-ux" href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/rr/rr6501e1.htm" rel="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0068ec; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-weight: 400; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-3 c1-6k c1-c c1-6n x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset;">Guideline</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> offered no support for mandatory opioid dose reductions in patients with long-term pain. Coming on the heels of an April 9 </span><a class="x-el x-el-a c1-1 c1-2 c1-3 c1-1c c1-1d c1-6k c1-1e c1-2u c1-6n c1-1h c1-1i c1-c c1-2t x-d-ux" href="https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/UCM635492.pdf" rel="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0068ec; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-weight: 400; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c1-1 c1-2 c1-3 c1-6k c1-c c1-6n x-d-ux" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: unset;">warning</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> from the United States Food and Drug Administration of “serious harm” to patients after rapid dose reduction or discontinuation, the Director’s letter flags the need for a recalibration of care decisions imposed by a wide range of private and governmental agencies that have invoked the CDC to justify coverage restrictions, quality metrics, legal threats and other actions to force dose reductions on nonconsenting patients.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://healthprofessionalsforpatientsinpain.org/press-release">READ MORE </a></span>Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-79354644778799650952019-04-10T16:19:00.000-07:002019-04-10T16:19:10.058-07:00The Blue Balloon Campaign<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blueballooncampaig.wixsite.com/blue">The Blue Balloon <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Campaign</span></a></span></h3>
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Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-88977565889570236172019-04-10T10:53:00.002-07:002019-04-10T10:53:38.042-07:00FDA identifies harm reported from sudden discontinuation of opioid pain medicines<h1 class="head1_body" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 30px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px;">
FDA identifies harm reported from sudden discontinuation of opioid pain medicines and requires label changes to guide prescribers on gradual, individualized tapering</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Safety Announcement R<a href="https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm635038.htm?utm_campaign=FDA+MedWatch-Opioid+Pain+Medicines%3A+Drug+Safety+Communication&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&fbclid=IwAR0NVOFwQkrxWzQC53-uz9qfK2rw4bgOvS-LDLiEQO7YOG53REhFvGwXMQM">EAD FDA PAGE HERE</a></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">4-9-2019]</strong> The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received reports of serious harm in patients who are physically dependent on opioid pain medicines suddenly having these medicines discontinued or the dose rapidly decreased. These include serious withdrawal symptoms, uncontrolled pain, psychological distress, and suicide.</div>
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While we continue to track this safety concern as part of our ongoing monitoring of risks associated with opioid pain medicines, we are requiring changes to the prescribing information for these medicines that are intended for use in the outpatient setting. These changes will provide expanded guidance to health care professionals on how to safely decrease the dose in patients who are physically dependent on opioid pain medicines when the dose is to be decreased or the medicine is to be discontinued.</div>
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Rapid discontinuation can result in uncontrolled pain or withdrawal symptoms. In turn, these symptoms can lead patients to seek other sources of opioid pain medicines, which may be confused with drug-seeking for abuse. Patients may attempt to treat their pain or withdrawal symptoms with illicit opioids, such as heroin, and other substances.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<a href="https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrugClass/ucm337066.htm" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005f9f; text-decoration-line: none; word-break: break-word;" target="">Opioids</a> are a class of powerful prescription medicines that are used to manage pain when other treatments and medicines cannot be taken or are not able to provide enough pain relief. They have serious risks, including abuse, addiction, overdose, and death. Examples of common opioids include codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone, and oxymorphone.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Health care professionals</strong> should not abruptly discontinue opioids in a patient who is physically dependent. When you and your patient have agreed to taper the dose of opioid analgesic, consider a variety of factors, including the dose of the drug, the duration of treatment, the type of pain being treated, and the physical and psychological attributes of the patient. No standard opioid tapering schedule exists that is suitable for all patients. Create a patient-specific plan to gradually taper the dose of the opioid and ensure ongoing monitoring and support, as needed, to avoid serious withdrawal symptoms, worsening of the patient’s pain, or psychological distress (For tapering and additional recommendations, see Additional Information for Health Care Professionals).</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Patients</strong> taking opioid pain medicines long-term should not suddenly stop taking your medicine without first discussing with your health care professional a plan for how to slowly decrease the dose of the opioid and continue to manage your pain. Even when the opioid dose is decreased gradually, you may experience symptoms of withdrawal (See Additional Information for Patients). Contact your health care professional if you experience increased pain, withdrawal symptoms, changes in your mood, or thoughts of suicide.</div>
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We are continuing to monitor this safety concern and will update the public if we have new information. Because we are constantly monitoring the safety of opioid pain medicines, we are also including new prescribing information on other side effects including central sleep apnea and drug interactions. We are also updating information on proper storage and disposal of these medicines that is currently available on our<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><a href="https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/EnsuringSafeUseofMedicine/SafeDisposalofMedicines/ucm186187.htm" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005f9f; text-decoration-line: none; word-break: break-word;" target="">Disposal of Unused Medicines</a> webpage.</div>
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To help FDA track safety issues with medicines, we urge patients and health care professionals to report side effects involving opioids or other medicines to the FDA MedWatch program, using the information in the “Contact FDA” box at the bottom of the page.</div>
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Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-73089900866260300212019-03-29T06:35:00.002-07:002019-03-29T06:35:49.566-07:00Any Positive Change - AZ Harm Reduction Conference 2019<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm in Phoenix today<span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"> for Arizona's first Harm Reduction Conference </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-style: italic;">Any Positive Change </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>2019</i> at </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Black Canyon Conference Center in Phoenix.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-contextual;">As I attend harm reduction events I remind those who attend that the people who abuse opioids aren't the only victims of the opioid crisis.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-contextual;">Pain patients are victims too. Patients by the thousands have been forced tapered off medications they've used for many years forcing some to turn to the streets, and others to simply end the pain.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-contextual;">If someone abuses opioids and overdose it's sad. If a pain patient ends their life for lack of pain control, it's a tragedy </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-contextual;">Arizona legislators passed the Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act limiting the dose a pain patient can receive, but there is no limit on dose for those who choose to abuse opioids.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-contextual;"><br /></span></span></span>Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-64927773186457732622019-03-25T06:07:00.000-07:002019-03-25T06:07:03.328-07:00Study Finds 90% of Medicare Patients Have Little Risk of Opioid Overdose<header id="yui_3_17_2_1_1553518663997_633" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 24px;"><h1 class="entry-title" data-content-field="title" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1553518663997_632" style="color: #382400; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><a href="https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2019/3/22/study-finds-90-of-patients-have-negligible-risk-of-opioid-overdose-nbsp"><span style="color: blue;">Pain News Network</span></a></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #311c1c; font-size: 18pt;">Study Finds 90% of
Medicare Patients Have Little Risk of Opioid Overdose</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #160e0e;"><a href="https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2019/3/22/study-finds-90-of-patients-have-negligible-risk-of-opioid-overdose-nbsp"><span style="color: #160e0e;">March 22, 2019</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #311c1c;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">By Pat Anson, PNN
Editor<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #311c1c;">Current methods used
to identify Medicare patients at high risk of overdosing on prescription opioids
target many people who are not really at high risk, according to a team of
researchers who found that over 90% of patients have little to no risk of
overdosing</span><span style="color: #311c1c;">.</span></span><b style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #311c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">The
computer models developed three risk groups that predict which patients are at
risk of overdosing over a 12 month period.</span><span style="color: #311c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #311c1c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #311c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Low
risk patients (67.5%) have 0.006% risk of overdose</span><span style="color: #311c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #311c1c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #311c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Medium
risk patients (23.3%) have 0.05% risk of overdose</span><span style="color: #311c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #311c1c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #311c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">High
risk patients (9.1%) have 1.77% risk of overdose </span><span style="color: #311c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #311c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Put
another way, out of 100,000 Medicare patients in the low risk group, six would
have an </span></b><span style="color: #311c1c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">overdose; while there would
be 1,770 overdoses in a high risk group of the same size</span></div>
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<span style="color: #311c1c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2019/3/22/study-finds-90-of-patients-have-negligible-risk-of-opioid-overdose-nbsp">READ the whole Article at Pain Network News</a></span></span></div>
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Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643815988241701961.post-40232844112192182832019-03-17T11:04:00.001-07:002019-03-17T11:04:56.408-07:00Some Brave Physicians Stand Up for Pain Patients, Some Brave Reporters Tell the Truth About Opioids<b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><i> Some Brave Reporters are Telling the Truth About Opioids</i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some brave reporters like George Knapp an </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">investigative reporter for the</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Channel-8's I-Team tell the truth about opioids and pain patients in stories like his</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> <span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -1px;"><a href="https://www.lasvegasnow.com/news/i-team-opioid-addiction-versus-dependency/987514320">I-TEAM report on Opioid Addiction Versus Dependency</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/prescribing/guideline.html">2016 CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain</a> came out most of the pain management physicians in my area misunderstood that: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">1. they were guidelines and not a rule, regulation, or law.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">2. the guidelines were for Primary Care Physicians and NOT pain management.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In Northern Arizona I was unable to find one, not one pain management physician who understood the <a href="https://azgovernor.gov/sites/default/files/related-docs/chronicpainweb_0.pdf">2018 Arizona Opioid <span style="color: black;">Epidemic Act</span> </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Every so called pain management physician I contacted told me they were limited by the 90 or 120 mg MME limit. Read the law, that's not what the law says... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Is it they can't read and understand the law? Or a</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">re they so afraid of the government they're willing to violate their oath to do no harm and let patients suffer and die in pain?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Could you? Could you watch someone suffer in pain if you had the power to lessen their suffering? Could you? If you had the power to allow someone in pain to get up and get out of their house, to do things that improve their quality of life. Could you? Could you just watch them suffer in pain?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The legislature put protections in the <a href="https://azgovernor.gov/sites/default/files/related-docs/chronicpainweb_0.pdf"> </a></span></span><a href="https://azgovernor.gov/sites/default/files/related-docs/chronicpainweb_0.pdf"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">2018 Arizona Opioid </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Epidemic Act</span> </a>to protect current chronic patients, but physicians simply ignore these protections. Even when I hand them this email from Governor Ducey's Office outlining the protections.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4Vk3ybehSY1rEnmJF3xrnyun8obpMdf8oasARA6_5YLj0od55sVdmMkZ6etPUXQSIMkc-alR8rc5nlI_o49tVT1VC7Fjtpl8xX4eOpOU4xc4tlHQ4_ie6OXTUN_2k8jKxPzO5l1y727E/s1600/From+AZ+Governor+May+24th+2018+RE+Pain+Meds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="722" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4Vk3ybehSY1rEnmJF3xrnyun8obpMdf8oasARA6_5YLj0od55sVdmMkZ6etPUXQSIMkc-alR8rc5nlI_o49tVT1VC7Fjtpl8xX4eOpOU4xc4tlHQ4_ie6OXTUN_2k8jKxPzO5l1y727E/s640/From+AZ+Governor+May+24th+2018+RE+Pain+Meds.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">They read the governors email and actually say, "I'm not going to break the law". When I tell them this is the law, they just say </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"I'm not going to break the law".... </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Many of the current problems with pain patients turning to street drugs and overdosing are caused because physicians refused to follow the protections the legislature placed in the </span><a href="https://azgovernor.gov/sites/default/files/related-docs/chronicpainweb_0.pdf"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Arizona Opioid </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Epidemic Act</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> to protect current pain patients.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was well known that forced tapering of current pain patients who had built a tolerance to opioid pain medications over years of use would have no choice but turn to the street if doses were reduced too low.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Some Brave Physicians Stand Up for Pain Patients</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Dr Marx is one of a hand full of pain management specialists who understand pain management are standing up for pain patients. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.lasvegasnow.com/news/i-team-opioid-addiction-versus-dependency/987514320">In the I-TEAM story Opioid Addiction Versus Dependency</a> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.14994px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Dr. Marx says pain patients do develop a dependence on their medication, but they can take it basically forever without harm it allows them to keep their jobs, remain active, have a life. Those who've had their meds cut have suffered terribly, and many have committed suicide. Their need for medication is not addiction</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.14994px;">"Dependence is not addiction," Ziegler said. "Withdrawal is not addiction. Addiction is a completely separate matter. As lot of people can be managed well on prescription therapy. For those who can be managed well, why are you trying to change their treatment?"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.14994px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci_snaj4mkE&feature=youtu.be">WATCH: Opioid Crisis - Reporter George Knapp's complete interview with Dr. Stephen Ziegler</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.14994px;"><br /></span>Jay Fleminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772390816315581003noreply@blogger.com1