Celebrity Overdoses Adversely Effect Pain Management

It seems that celebrity overdoses or accidental deaths caused by prescription drugs are having an adverse effect on pain management in America. First and foremost should suffering be relieved when that relief is readily available.

The recent deaths of Heath Ledger and Anna Nicole Smith received extensive media attention. Even though their deaths were tragic and saddened the American community at large; the fact that they died from prescription medication tends to focus attention on the medical community. It seems physicians question the prescribing of certain medications that are necessary for many patients to obtain relief from chronic pain for fear of discipline by the regulating boards.

Anna Nicole Smith was taking Methadone. This drug is a synthesized opiate that was developed by the Nazi's during WWII as a replacement for morphine, which was difficult to acquire. Methadone is commonly used in clinics for rehabilitating heroin addicts, or people with chronic addiction to opiates. Some physicians say it is trading one addiction for another; but, Methadone is much safer when administered by a clinic as opposed to street heroin whose dose varies with the "cut" and can easily kill.

Methadone is also an advantageous medication for chronic pain when properly monitored. Its half life is up to 72 hours and it is much more affordable in pill form than MS Contin or Oxycontin. It is a safe medication for chronic pain if monitored properly, although many physicians are reluctant to prescribe it, especially after a celebrity death is associated with it's use in one form or another. Physicians' narcotics prescriptions are monitored by the state licensure boards and their fear is justified...they don't want to loose their license. Basically, this is done at the expense of the patient in chronic pain. If a physician's class II or III narcotic license is suspended, the patient under their care goes through immediate withdrawal. Provisions should be made for the patient's gradual withdrawal should the physician loose their license. Sudden withdrawal from treatment for chronic pain can cause multiple problems including death. The medical boards do not seem to consider nor care about this problem.

People with collagen diseases in advance stages, diabetic neuropathy, chronic back pain, fibromyalgia or other diseases that cause chronic pain are frequently referred to a "pain clinic". These clinics obviously specialize in pain management, and because of these celebrity deaths, they have become more reluctant to relieve the patient's pain, even though monitoring medication is safe if done properly. Pain clinics are expensive and usually ran by anesthesiologists or psychiatrists looking for a quick buck. No one can prevent a suicide if the patient is intent upon self destruction. A suicidal person can kill themselves with "shelf" medications such as aspirin.

It is difficult for a patient on a fixed income, with today's Medicare situation, to be able to afford to see their family physician and also be forced to go to a pain clinic once per month. Family physicians should not be intimidated by their directing boards into fear of losing their license by relieving chronic pain. A pain clinic is unnecessary when the family physician is perfectly capable of treating chronic pain. A patient should not have to suffer because these drug abuses are highlighted by celebrity deaths. No one should be in pain if it can be controlled. A short time ago, pain relief was of primary interest in the medical community. Things seem to have changed. Undue pressure is being placed on the physician. They are forced to sit back and watch a patient suffer because of politics.