Pubdate: Sat, 13 May 2006
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2006 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n570/a01.html
Author: Siobhan Reynolds
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?232 (Chronic Pain)

WHEN THE PAIN IS CHRONIC

To the Editor:

John Tierney ("A Taste of His Own Medicine," column, May 6) hits the 
nail on the head when he suggests that drug war prosecutions, like 
those of Rush Limbaugh or Richard Paey, are more for show than for 
actual enforcement purposes.

Unfortunately, these prosecutions also reinforce a medical culture 
that routinely hardens itself against the anguished pleas of people 
in serious pain.

An Internet study presented at the annual meeting of the American 
Pain Society last week in San Antonio, Tex., revealed that while 88 
percent of those who visit emergency rooms do so because of 
out-of-control pain, only 15 percent said they received immediate treatment.

If any other segment of our population were being discriminated 
against in such a damaging way, the outcry would be tremendous. But 
because of our society's obsession with rooting out addiction, we 
look the other way as people in pain are systematically abused by 
health care professionals.

The drug war, thus understood, is a crime against our most vulnerable 
population, those in serious, chronic pain.

Siobhan Reynolds

President, Pain Relief Network 
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