False media news has led to confuse and mislead the public about legally prescribed opioids for pain verses illicit drugs that contain opioid mixed with fentanyl that has been the true cause of opioid deaths. Less than 1% of chronic pain patients who get a prescription for opioids abuse it.

Many in the chronically ill community are disabled from the pain they have. Veterans who have fought for our country have been told they will no longer receive opioid pain medicine from traumatic battlefield injuries and are being left to suffer.

The fear of prescribing opioids doesn’t just effect the chronically ill or injured veterans; Everyone, and I literally mean everyone, is one surgery or accident or medical diagnosis away from needing an opioid to handle the severe pain that follows.  People find out too late that their pain will not be managed and they will be denied the pain relief they need because of the so called “opioid crisis.”  Per the CDC website, doctor prescriptions for opioids have declined by 25% yet the death toll blamed on opioids has continued to rise.  It cannot be stressed enough that doctors are not to blame for the opioid deaths!  Illicit drugs that come into this country is where the problem lies.

We need to protect our right as a patient, to receive proper medical care which includes options for pain management.  Not treating pain is inhumane! Please help us by signing this petition so that millions of innocent people do not have to suffer.