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References in the National Pain Strategy are of major concern as every state in the country fights a national health crisis of addiction and death to prescription opioids.

Marianne Skolek Global News Centre

(MYRTLE BEACH)   There is a published report entitled the “National Pain Strategy - A Comprehensive Population Health-Level Strategy for Pain.”  Here is the link to the report   http://iprcc.nih.gov/National_Pain_Strategy/NPS_Main.htm  This pain strategy is being considered for implementation by the Health and Human Services (HHS) Division of the government.  The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) as well as Medicaid report to the HHS.  Public comments will be considered by the HHS on the pain strategy, but what is it that is so concerning about this “pain strategy”?

Here are some references in the National Pain Strategy that are of major concern as every state in the country fights a national health crisis of addiction and death to prescription opioids — while there is no shortage of narcotics to treat pain in this country:

“Increased scientific knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of pain has led to the conclusion that chronic pain can be a disease in itself that requires adequate treatment and a research commitment.”  (If the HHS for one moment considers chronic pain a disease rather than a symptom, the deaths and addictions to prescription opioids will amount to a deadly Holocaust in the U.S.)

“People with chronic pain need greater access to treatments that take into account their preferences and are in accord with best evidence on safety and effectiveness.”  (Below are a list of some of the physicians and organizations supporting “greater access to treatments” and my concerns with these physicians under Senate investigation for their financial gains with the pharmaceutical industry in pushing opioids):

Rollin Gallagher, MD, Veterans Health Administration

Dr. Gallagher has been editor-in-chief of Pain Medicine Journal (funded by Purdue Pharma and under Senate investigation), former president of the American Board of Pain Medicine  (under Senate investigation), and former director of the American Pain Foundation (under Senate investigation) and president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine (under Senate investigation). He served on several national Veterans Administration (VA) committees related to pain and on a joint project with the Veterans Administration and Department of Defense (DOD) to establish pain management guidelines.

Scott M. Fishman, MD

Dr. Fishman as well as his book “Responsible Opioid Prescribing” are under Senate investigation.  Fishman’s book minimized the dangers of addiction to prescription opioids and was used as the “holy grail” to every medical  board in the U.S. in the treatment of pain.

Lynn R. Webster, MD

Dr. Webster is also under Senate investigation.  I have written extensively about Webster and the 20 plus deaths at his pain clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah which he attributed to suicides. In addition, his publications and lectures directed to the medical profession down-played the risk of addiction and death to prescription opioids.  Webster has also been very vocal about infants born to drug addicted mothers are not “addicted” but rather are “dependent.”  Tell that to the neo-natal nurses throughout the country treating drug addicted newborns for weeks to months in specialized units of hospitals, Dr. Webster.

Here is a link to the article I wrote with my concerns about the U.S. Pain Foundation who also support the National Pain Strategy:

http://www.globalnewscentre.com/why-prescription-opioidsheroin-death-and-addiction-still-rages-in-u-s-and-canada/#sthash.NLBOO4gQ.dpbs.

This was a message I received from the head of the U.S. Pain Foundation after my article was published —  ” Hey Marianne, the things you are sharing are inappropriate and should not be on Facebook. Please take them down. If you continue to spread lies and false accusations as well as false statements we will be forced to take legal action. US Pain Foundation is working to promote the NPS which if you read, addresses addiction and the problem with pain and not the other way around.”  I did not respond because I make it a point to disregard communications that are not credible and all my articles are posted on Facebook because they are accurate.

Some physicians as well as pharma funded pain foundations - including the U.S. Pain Foundation support this pain strategy and call it a document of action to make an astounding difference in the lives of people suffering in pain — and thereby have a huge impact on society itself.  If “society” is considered Medicare and Medicaid recipients, than the HHS will be contributing further to the loss of lives to prescription opioids by approving this pain strategy and the physicians such as Gallagher, Fishman and Webster will further profit financially — and the addiction and death rates will soar further.

This physician generated prescription opioid Holocaust will worsen if this National Pain Strategy is approved and pain is classified as a disease.  I can picture Josef Mengele, a physician at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II giving a tour of the camp and while standing in front of the ovens saying — “Don’t worry they’re not turned on — yet.”

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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