“Images of happy reunions, embraces with family members and young parents seeing their infant sons and daughters for the first time have followed the more than 10,000 veterans settling in to civilian life having returned from service in Afghanistan. These images however belie the fact that many combat veterans will return to civilian life plagued with chronic pain. Thankfully, a recent announcement by the VA represents one of the best signs of hope in the battle against chronic pain among veterans.

The announcement of a massive research project that may have far-reaching health implications couldn’t come sooner. The U.S. Veterans Administration is partnering with the National Institutes of Health to begin a five-year, $21.7 million initiative to study the effectiveness of alternative treatment to chronic pain without worsening the opioid abuse problem. As reported on the Pain Medicine News website, the undertaking includes 13 separate research projects. Modalities to be studied will include, but are not limited to, psychotherapy, biofeedback, mindfulness meditation and self-hypnosis.”

Here’s a bulletin for Dr. Webster — there is no money to be made endorsing psychotherapy, biofeedback and mindfulness meditation — but there sure is money to be made if you become a consultant for the Veterans Administration hospitals treating veterans and continue to be pharma’s “poster physician” pushing addictive and dangerous opioids. Am I concerned with the possibility of you inside the doors of V.A. hospitals?  You bet I am.

Perry Fine, MD testified for the defense in the Anna Nicole Smith trial investigating her death.  Fine testified that Smith taking 1,500 opioids a month did not classify her as an addict — she functioned every day.

Scott M. Fishman, MD wrote a book entitled “Responsible Opioid Prescribing - A Physician’s Guide” funded by the maker of OxyContin.  The book was sent to all State Medical Boards throughout the country - as well as Canada - and physicians were encouraged to read it — the prescribing of opioids was encouraged and the risk of addiction downplayed throughout the book.  Now the book is a required read for physicians losing their medical licenses and renewing their medical licenses in every state in the country.

In 2012 the U.S. Senate announced an investigation into pharmaceutical companies including the maker of OxyContin, their financed pain foundations, the physicians named above and the book Fishman wrote that has already accomplished its intent — to distort the dangers of opioids to the medical profession.  One of the most successful pain foundations called The American Pain Foundation (APF) closed its doors the day after the Senate announced their investigation.  The APF was named in the U.S. Senate investigation.  As of today, the Senate has not held anyone accountable for the devastation in the loss of life to prescription opioids now leading to an upsurge in the use of heroin.

Why is the U.S. Senate not furious that we are losing family members by the tens of thousands to addiction and death to prescription opioids — many young people.  Where is the accountability from the U.S. Senate as they sit back with their eyes wide shut.

Several weeks ago, I wrote about a pain foundation called the U.S. Pain Foundation and a head of the Foundation who testified in front of the Senate laying on a yoga mat claiming she was a pain patient of 19 years and advocated for the pain patient.  She seems to have no problem flying all over the country speaking for the pharmaceutical industry.  Here is a link to my article about the U.S. Pain Foundation http://www.globalnewscentre.com/why-does-u-s-senate-allow-antics-during-hearings-with-total-disregard-for-the-prescription-opioidheroin-epidemic/#sthash.0g8sc9dY.dpbs.

Recently U.S. Pain Foundation “ambassadors” were embraced into the U.S. Senate by Senator Michael Bennett from Colorado since 2009 and now a Senior Senator.  One of Bennett’s campaign contributors was Jonathan Sackler, Director of Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin whose family founded Purdue Pharma.

U.S. Senator Jeff Flake from Arizona since 2012 also embraced the U.S. Pain Foundation ambassadors into the U.S. Senate.  Flake also received campaign contributions from Jonathan Sackler.  Enclosed with this article is a photo of Senators Bennett and Flake posing with women representing the U.S. Pain Foundation — some in their nightlife walking attire.

On May 14 to the 16th, the 34th Annual American Pain Society Meeting will be held in Palm Springs, California.  Bob A. Rappaport, MD, former head of the FDA pain medicine division until his recent retirement will be rewarded for his work on approving pain medication.  Why would an employee of an agency set up to safeguard the American people be rewarded by a pain society under U.S. Senate investigation?

Scott M. Fishman, MD is also being rewarded by the American Pain Society at this same meeting for his “contribution” to the opioid epidemic in the U.S. and Canada.

So I ask you — where is the outrage?  Families are turning to groups and organizations forming with less than honest credentials in desperation to help their family members dealing with addiction — and hopefully prevent a funeral.

One of the organizations called CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) is sponsored by Partnership for a Drug Free America — financed by Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin.  Maybe the organization should be called GRAFT rather than CRAFT.  I have been told that Partnership is charging families for kits to implement CRAFT.  Just the thought that Partnership, who is in bed with Purdue Pharma, would be taking advantage of desperate family members by offering any program supported by the pharmaceutical company is criminal.

Am I disgusted?  You bet I am.   I have had enough — have you?

LP - You were right.  Goes well with waffles and spaghetti-o’s — this side of Conway.  Love you

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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