My story, like many others, starts with chronic pain. I suffer from constant discomfort in my back and pelvis; a discouraging puzzle doctors have yet to solve. As a result, my life has been profoundly altered and often overwhelmed by pain. Multiple medications fall short of providing any relief, yet there's one that helps, and that's Pregabalin, commonly known as Lyrica. It's markedly better than gabapentin, a drug not listed as a controlled substance, despite it serving to alleviate a similar kind of pain.

We do understand the government's compelling interest in regulating drugs, yet we strongly oppose the classification of Lyrica as a controlled substance while gabapentin is not. Especially given that multiple reputable studies show that Pregabalin is as safe and effective as gabapentin. These substances were both designed to treat nerve pain, yet only one of them is restricted. This only leads to unnecessary hurdles for chronic pain sufferers like me.

Lyrica helps people. It offers hope and the chance for a better quality of life. It provides individuals struggling with debilitating conditions a chance to live a life that's not centered around pain. The stark contrast in regulation between Lyrica and gabapentin seems unfair and, dare I say, ridiculous.

We are not asking for unrestricted access to Pregabalin. We, the patients, the ones living in daily pain, are only hoping for a balanced approach to controlling such substances. It's not a request borne out of frivolity; it is a desperate plea for a more human-centered healthcare policy.

We, therefore, call on the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to alleviate the struggles people like me face by reconsidering the status of Lyrica on the controlled substance list. Please sign this petition and lend your voice to make a meaningful change for those who suffer in silence every day.