Shame on Congress for allowing so-called “pain advocate” to lay on Senate floor while giving testimony,,,

Marianne Skolek Global News Centre

(MYRTLE BEACH) I recently was made aware by families who have lost loved ones to addiction and death in the prescription opioid/heroin epidemic that a woman was climbing the steps of the Senate in Washington, DC and Massachusetts carrying a yoga mat under her arm.  She was there to testify at hearings on issues relating to the epidemic — she as an advocate for pain patients to not be denied their opioids.

Why the yoga mat though?  Well it seems the senators conducting the hearings allow her to lay on the Senate floor on her yoga mat and testify using a hand held microphone because in the 1990’s, she sustained an injury.  Bizarre?  No it is shame on the senators during these legislative hearings in allowing this disrespect for the tens of thousands of families who suffer pain in the loss of loved ones — and they do not use theatrics in total disrespect for the Senate and this health crisis.

The U.S. Pain Foundation http://uspainfoundation.org/ is opposed to stricter restrictions on narcotic prescribing.  Its National Policy and Advocacy Director is Cindy Steinberg whose injury in the 1990’s necessitates her laying on a yoga mat to testify in front of the Senate — and obviously this behavior is condoned by the Senate or she would be escorted off the Senate floor.  If you’re curious about the U.S. Pain Foundation, you may find the following interesting:

The US Pain Foundation is a Connecticut-based nonprofit that received 87 percent of its $250,000 budget from prescription drug companies in 2012. Steinberg was paid $6,480 by the US Pain Foundation in 2012 for her role, according to tax records. She received the same amount from the group in 2013.

Ms. Steinberg has an interesting following and possible financial alignment with the pharmaceutical industry and other organizations.  Here is a brief summary:

Law enforcement heads have been very vocal in the unprecedented deaths as a result of prescription opiates leading to heroin addiction and deaths — again especially in Massachusetts.

Steinberg is also involved in a volunteer group called the Massachusetts Pain Initiative.

Steinberg opposed Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s ban in 2014 on Zohydro — nicknamed “heroin in a capsule.”

In the fall of 2014, Steinberg participated in a “Chronic Pain Community Expert Roundtable” conference call sponsored by Zohydro’s manufacturer, Zogenix, describing the negative experiences of patients with pain.  One of the comments made by Steinberg at the “roundtable” was:

C. Steinberg: “We need to bust some myths about abuse and people with pain. People with chronic pain take medication to relieve the pain. People with addiction often move from medication to medication or use illegal medications because they have a craving they need to satisfy. That’s a very different group of people and that message isn’t out there.”   (The message is out there Ms. Steinberg — people with addiction are not craving an opioid to satisfy their addiction — they are “addicted” because they are being prescribed dangerous opioids for long term chronic pain — some being prescribed opioids for decades.  It is not a “craving” — it is “addiction” and we are losing a generation while financial gain takes precedent over human life).

Steinberg is New England Director of the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) and Leader of the Boston Area Chapter of the ACPA, which she founded in 2000.  Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin is a financial supporter of the ACPA.

In 2009, Ms. Steinberg was awarded the American Pain Foundation’s Presidential Medal for outstanding contributions to the field of pain management.  In 2012, the U.S. Senate announced an investigation into the pharmaceutical industry, their pain foundations and their paid physician spokespeople for contributing to the prescription opioid epidemic.  The American Pain Foundation was named in the Senate investigation and closed its doors within days of the Senate announcing they were under scrutiny.

Below is a list of the sponsors of Ms. Steinberg’s U.S. Pain Foundation — many pharmaceutical companies.  One stands out though — it is Whole Foods.  This is how Whole Foods promotes itself:

Whole Food Company

Whole Food Company (WFC) opened its doors in New Orleans in October 1974. Its mission was to be a grocery store featuring good, wholesome food; not a “health food” store filled with pills and potions. Sales doubled each year for the first four years. By 1978, the store (only 1,100 square feet) was doing more than $1 million per year. Success was fueled by a committed staff who were all stockholders in the company.

Curious as to how a “health food” store promoting organics and not a “store filled with pills” would endorse the Steinberg’s U.S. Pain Foundation promoting dangerous prescription opioids such as Zohydro.  Shame on them — and the U.S. Senate for ridiculing the loss of life throughout the country to prescription opioids leading to heroin and allowing profiteering by foundations funded by the pharmaceutical industry.

May I suggest that if the U.S. Senate continues to allow Ms. Steinberg to testify before any legislative hearings laying on a yoga mat, they put a cactus plant on the Senate floor since Steinberg has no problem standing in front of one to pose for a photo as shown on Facebook.

LP - Next time Linda Blair knocks on the door, you won’t open it.  She sure was persistent these last couple of weeks though.  Love you for your gifts of faith, love, patience and laughter — oh and wonderful peace.

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Global News Centre’s Marianne Skolek, is an Investigative Reporter who focuses on the Prescription Opioid/Heroin Epidemic in the U.S. and Canada. In particular, Marianne has covered the criminal marketing of OxyContin going back to 1999 and continuing to the present.

In 2002, Marianne lost her daughter, Jill to prescribed OxyContin which her physician referred to as “mobility in a bottle.” It was, in fact, death in a bottle. After doing extensive research on the maker of OxyContin, Purdue Pharma, Marianne began working with the Department of Justice in Virginia in their criminal investigation into Purdue Pharma and in July 2007 was asked by the U.S. Attorney John Brownlee prosecuting the case to testify against the three CEO’s of Purdue Pharma, Michael Friedman, Paul Goldenheim, MD and Howard Udell, Chief Counsel. The CEO’s pleaded guilty to misleading the medical profession about the dangers of OxyContin. Marianne also testified against Purdue Pharma at a Judiciary Hearing of the U.S. Senate in July 2007.

In addition, a dangerous and highly addictive opioid named Zohydro has been approved by the FDA against their Advisory Committee’s advice and Marianne continues to alert Attorneys General, Senators and Congressmen as to the FDA’s irresponsibility in the out of control prescription opioid/heroin epidemic killing and addicting in the tens of thousands each year. Zohydro has been referred to as “heroin in a capsule” and its lowest dosage (10mg) contains twice as much hydrocodone as found in a Vicodin pill. The highest single dose of Zohydro contains as much hydrocodone as 5 to 10 tablets of Vicodin or Lortab. Zohydro mixed with alcohol can be fatal and has no abuse deterrent built in which will make it easy to crush and deliver a fatal dose of the opioid.

Currently Marianne has been instrumental in calling for the termination of Margaret Hamburg, MD, Commissioner of the FDA as well as Bob A. Rappaport, MD and Douglas Throckmorton, MD for their lack of commitment to safeguarding the American public against the prescription opioid/heroin epidemic. Marianne’s research, writing and contact with government agencies and attorneys has also exposed the heavily funded pain foundations set up by the pharmaceutical industry and their paid physician spokespersons who convinced the medical boards in 50 states and Canada that dangerous opioids such as OxyContin were less likely to be addictive. These physicians — in particular Scott Fishman, MD, J. David Haddox, DDS, MD, Perry Fine, MD, Lynn R. Webster, MD, Russell Portenoy, MD also downplayed the risks of addictive opioids in books as authors. These books are still available for sale and promoted to the medical profession.

Here are links to Marianne’s involvement in exposing the national conspiracy of the prescription opioid/heroin epidemic, the FDA, the pharmaceutical industry, their pain foundations and paid physician spokespersons.

http://www.salem-news.com/by_author.php?reporter=Marianne%20Skolek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmPG1VjD61U&list=UUWoHUEr4ZAbQOfIqtOArjgg&index=6&feature=plcp

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=855537227796352&set=vb.658186307531446&type=2&theater