In this past year, I’ve been diagnosed with a painful form of inflammatory arthritis.  Every day it’s a battle to control the pain and live a normal life.  Every month, I see a wonderful PA who treats and manages my pain with opioids.  They, in that single office, have probably hundreds of patients.  How many of these types of doctors exist in Idaho?

This is a huge struggle for those of us managing pain everyday.  In Idaho, we literally have one option.  ONE SINGLE OPTION that comes with many side effects and a horrible chemical dependency.  Opioids are it for us.  That’s all we’ve got here in Idaho.

Why can’t we as Idahoans choose what is best for our health?  Why do you politicians make it political or include your religious beliefs in this decision?  Would it not make more sense for everyone to have a natural alternative that is PROVEN to work and get patients OFF OPIOIDS?!  What is really more harmful to our society?  

I wish to live in a state that gives me a choice to decide how to best manage my pain.  I’m tired of the chemical dependency and thinking of the damage these drugs are doing to my internal organs is frightening.  There are other options for us.  PLEASE, stop making that choice for us.  

To everyone else who’s voting against these propositions, shame on you.  Your ignorance is making the lives of people who suffer with pain even worse.  We aren’t wanting to get “high”.  We want a choice in our medical treatment.  

How many more deaths will it take for you to do something?