Pubdate: Thu, 11 Apr 2002
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2002, The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.globeandmail.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Herman J. Van Norden

PAINFUL CONCLUSION

Vancouver -- Thank you very much for your important article on chronic pain 
(How Can Doctors Feel Your Pain? -- April 9). To the question "Why is 
non-cancer pain so challenging?" I want to add this answer: "Because of 
meddling by legislators and police authorities who don't know anything 
about pain but have an obsession with the war on drugs."

There are a number of addicting drugs that are legal, notably tobacco and 
alcohol, and a large number that are not, notably opiates. Tobacco causes 
cancer, heart disease, pregnancy complications, etc. Alcohol causes 
cirrhosis, several brain diseases, pregnancy complications, etc. Opiates 
cause none of these.

Nevertheless, medical students are taught the legal consequences of 
prescribing opiates -- in other words, they are taught that preventing 
addiction to an effective and harmless drug is more important than pain relief.

HERMAN J. VAN NORDEN,  MD (retired)
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