http://www.salem-news.com/articles/may172016/stigma-opioid-epidemic-ms.php
By: Marianne Skolek-Perez, Salem-News.com “Investigative Reporter”
(MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.) – This past week CNN broadcast an Anderson Cooper interview on the prescription opioid/heroin epidemic at a Town Hall Meeting.
CNN has been accused by the U.S. Pain Foundation, a lobbying group for pharma in catering to the needs of chronic pain patients in their use of long term opioids, at stigmatizing the pain patients…
Mr. Gileno charged that a woman in the audience named Kay Sanford was the only person with pain — and on prescription opioids for “25 years” given the opportunity to speak. He was appalled that Ms. Sanford was interrupted by both Anderson Cooper and Dr. Drew Pinsky during the broadcast and were dismissive of her pain journey.
Gileno further stated that those on the CNN panel “had the audacity to say her story was the minority.” I recall that Ms. Sanford proudly stated that she walked a mile and a half three times a week and swims even while taking prescription opioids for her chronic pain condition — for 25 years.
Strange though that people in attendance at the broadcast watched as Ms. Sanford was assisted to be seated and subsequently assisted from her seat after the broadcast.
Yet she is a walker of 1-1/2 miles and swims? …
Do you know what matters Mr. Gileno?
It is that we are losing a generation of young people to the prescription opioid epidemic now leading to soaring heroin usage. Stigma of the chronic pain patients? Give me a break…
This country has an over abundance of opioids prescribed to pain patients — many long term who are addicted — hook, line and sinker. The stigma is that your foundation is funded by the pharmaceutical industry and pharma controls the FDA. Thereby, the approval of so many dangerous and addictive opioids being prescribed not only to your “pain patients”, but to young people, Addiction is the culprit.
Notice I don’t use the word “dependent” and I won’t. As long as the U.S. Pain Foundation “advocates” for pain patients and their long-term use of opioids, the addiction and death toll will rage out of control…
CNN and other news media need to keep this epidemic in the forefront. Lives depend upon it.
Email addresses for the CNN producers are: Carrie.Stevenson@turner.com & Desiree.Adib@turner.com
On February 17, 2015 I wrote an article asking why an advocate/official of the U.S. Pain Foundation was allowed to perform antics during hearings on the Senate floor, lying on a yoga mat, while giving testimony about chronic pain.
Why the yoga mat though? Well it seems the senators conducting the hearings allowed her to lay on the Senate floor on her yoga mat and testify using a hand held microphone because in the 1990’s, she sustained an injury.
Bizarre? No it is shame on the senators during these legislative hearings in allowing this disrespect for the tens of thousands of families who suffer pain in the loss of loved ones — and they do not use theatrics in total disrespect for this health crisis…
All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.
My comments, all of which have been censored on this website:
Comment #1:
As a 30-year intractable pain survivor, I can’t add anything to this comment section that hasn’t already been said. Instead, I’ll share some poems that I’ve written, words that I think about every single day.
Please kill me
Just kill me now
I’ve suffered enough
and how
Suffering
shuddering
pain roaring
thundering
overpowering
head hammering
eyes watering
thoughts scattering
body lumbering
no glimmering
time shuttering
heart hardening
life guttering
bad thoughts whispering
pain is poisoning
I can easily
picture myself
on my deathbed
denied pain relief
denied dignity
Frightening
https://painkills2.wordpress.com/2015/12/27/uncontrolled-pain/
Comment #2:
How long does it take for you to approve comments?
Comment #3:
I absolutely abhor censorship, especially when it’s done out of selfishness.
Last comment:
When fear causes you to censor my words, you steal my voice. When you steal my voice, you silence me. That’s what you think will happen, but it’s not true. Because when you have your own blog, with terms searchable through Google, your voice can reach whoever’s listening.
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