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Date Submitted February 8, 2025
Submitted by Rhonda Allen
To Whom It Regards,
Definition of Chronic Pain: Persistent pain that lasts longer than 3 months to years. The pain may be caused by inflammation or dysfunctional nerves. Can create a vicious cycle. A few examples are Endometriosis, Gout, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Joint Replacements, and Decaying vertebras. The list is endless.
This is in response to the story published about Senator Keith Kelley. The Federal Legislation is needed to help seniors overcome opioid addiction. I am going to speak for myself. Is everyone who is prescribed a pain medication an addict? It seems, that most of the elected officials, in Alabama, only care about the label ADDICT. No one is standing up for the chronic pain patients well-being. Are you afraid you will be singled out by peers? Senator Katie Britt, I thought, was going to be the one. But fooled me. She doesn’t even respond to the issue now. Only campaign season. Attorney Steve Marshall also, does not respond on this issue.
If you are not an addict-you don’t matter-but you will wear the title-regardless. There were millions awarded to Alabama from the pharmaceutical company’s lawsuits per Attorney General Steve Marshall. I’m sure everyone has heard about it. One of many services that I am struggling to understand is Medication Opioid Use Disorder for incarcerated individuals? Is that a new diagnosis for addicts? Prevention Services, treatment services, and recovery support services are all for addicts while legal pain clinics are being shut down all over the state, and doctors who take care of their patients with the oath they were sworn in to are being sent to prison?
Chronic Pain Patients are being left without doctors, without medication, etc. This actually is what increases the percentages of suicide statistics , street drugs increase statistics but that is not told. Have you heard about people killing themselves because they are unable to get their pain meds? The chronic pain was so unbearable they couldn’t handle it anymore. They chose to end their life. Did you hear about the person whose meds were so drastically cut back that they went to the street to obtain something? Anything. Seeking relief. Not the high an addict seeks. But from pain. Instead, died because it was laced. How safe is this? Why are the elected government officials, like Senator Keith Kelley, of the State of Alabama not taking a stand to help the people with chronic pain instead of helping them slowly lose their well being, Quality Of Life? This is inhumane. Opioids saves lives. Until you walk in the shoes of someone that experiences chronic pain on a day to day basis, that would rather end their life than live due to unbearable uncontrolled pain. You will never know…or understand..
I may be a senior but I’m not an addict. Quit treating/labeling me as one. I want a Quality Of Life! But I don’t need a government official making that decision for me. Nor interfering with doctor/patient confidential treatment for what is best decided for my well being.
Please reach out to the government officials. Chronic Pain Patients deserve to live without the everyday struggle of living because some chose a different path. I didn’t. Don’t Punish Pain!!!! Quit Punishing Me!!!
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