To the Editor of the Banner News,
In the state of Arkansas, there are many chronic pain patients that are unable to receive the medications they need to live a productive life. Many of these patients have been on pain medicine for many years due to chronic pain that is untreatable any other way. With the new laws going into effect, many more patients will continue to suffer. The government is passing laws where they tell the Drs how to treat their patients. With the drug epidemic in full swing, many are forgetting that not all people that take pain medicine are drug addicts. True chronic pain patients do not sell or give away their medication. They take monthly urine screens and pill counts to make sure they have the right amount. Chronic pain patients have become collateral damage in the drug epidemic. Even though legal Dr prescribed prescription rates have gone down, the amount of over doses has increased. On Jan 29, 2019, the Don’t Punish Pain Rally will be holding a rally at the state capitol in Little Rock to bring awareness to these issues these new laws have created. It will be an educational protest, by explaining how we can still fight the illegal drug epidemic without abandoning our chronic pain patients. Many patients are having their medication reduced to an amount that does nothing for them and many patients are being cut off their meds all together. Many pain patients have taken the route of suicide rather then face another day in agony. They have felt there was no other choice, we don’t want to lose any more pain patients this way. No one should feel that suicide is the only answer to pain relief. We have to stand together and educate and fight to be able to keep living a life worth living and not just existing. Some patients have lost their jobs, and in return, have lost homes and cars because they have no income. Many of these people have lived a productive life until they were taken off their medicine. Now many are fighting to get on disability just to have some sort of income to take care of their families. Many families have also been torn apart because the one in pain feels like a burden to the rest of the family. I am asking for anyone that has chronic pain that has either been reduced from their medicine or taken off their medicine to go to Facebook and find Arkansas Don’t Punish Pain Rally. You will find a group of people just like yourself, fighting for the same cause. You don’t have to be a pain patient to join. Caretakers, family and friends are also asked to join. We also ask, if you are able to, come to the Rally on Jan 29 between 11-1. We are not just fighting for ourselves, we are fighting for all chronic pain patients. The rally will be heard at the State Capital on Jan 29,2019 between 11am-1pm. If you have any questions, you can go to our Facebook page Arkansas Don’t Punish Pain Rally.
Thank you,
JL of Magnolia