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Teresa Shaffer wrote a new post 9 years, 8 months ago
I recently wrote a blog titled, Enough is Enough! Stop the Stigma Against People Living with Pain. This is the second entry sharing the frustration that I, along with other people living with pain, face every day. […]
Bravo Teresa what an amazing blog. Thank you for being so honest and putting it out on the table.
Yes, I too am sick and tired of the endless media coverage that is biased, half truths and blatantly puts the blame of the drug abuse epidemic on the backs of those of us in pain.
There are 2 epidemics – drug abuse addiction and the undertreatment or might I be bold enough to say mistreatment of those in pain.
When someone drinks to excess – drives a car and kills innocent people or themselves do we hear an outcry in the media for the prohibition of alcohol? Never!!! But let one person obtain pain medications illegally via deception, robbery or other illegal avenue and overdose and / or die there is an immediate outcry in the media for the removal of all prescription pain medications,
The medications are demonized and with it the millions of persons who depend on these same medications to live a life without excruciating 24/7 pain.
We need better pain treatment AND we need better treatment for,drug abuseaddiction. 2 separate issues that require 2 separate solutions.
Thank you Teresa for challenging each and every one of us to speak out, shout and scream about the injustices done to people in pain. I see this from 2 points of view- that of a person in pain and that of a clinician who helps people in pain find solutions and treatment that addresses their unique pain issues. Pain is complex and the solutions are complex as well.
Kudos for your frankness, Teresa! This is one blog that all must share and encourage comments from the many who live with pain everyday. You are so right—Enough is enough and together we must scream, holler and shout. If not, we are to blame that pain care does not improve and this terrible state of affairs does not return to sanity and humane discourse.
Thank you ladies. It is my hope that this will help people living with pain to stop being afraid of speaking up.
It is our time be heard and heard we must be!