Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder are Not Diseases

(MYRTLE BEACH, SC) - The National Director of Policy and Advocacy for the U.S. Pain Foundation testified February 12th at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. The hearing “Managing Pain During the Opioid Crisis” was chaired by U.S. Senator Alexander.

The National Director arrived on the Senate floor laying on a cot and at the point of testimony, transferred to sitting in a chair. In 2015, he had testified in front of the U.S. Senate laying on a yoga mat holding a microphone.

In this week's testimony, the National Director said chronic pain and opioid use disorder are distinct and separate diseases. No, Senator Alexander, chronic pain is not a disease -- it is a symptom of a physical or psychological problem that needs to be properly diagnosed by a physician. Opioid use disorder is just that -- it is a disorder -- not a disease.

Unfortunately too many physicians prescribe dangerous and highly addictive opioids for chronic pain as a result of aggressive marketing by pharmaceutical companies who finance organizations such as the U.S. Pain Foundation. That is why this country is experiencing an opioid epidemic of unprecedented proportions.

Since you gave time to the U.S. Pain Foundation to promote their agenda, will you be holding hearings for families whose loved ones were prescribed opioids, became hopelessly addicted and died? These families deserve to be heard.

Many are not aware of the history of the U.S. Pain Foundation which was founded in 2011 by a chronic pain patient. This past year, the Connecticut Attorney General's office began an investigation into financial discrepancies and embezzlement by the founder of the U.S. Pain Foundation.

The amount of embezzlement was approximately $2 million -- and the founder was asked "to resign." The Foundation has also had problems with keeping their registration current and paying taxes.

Former U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri had conducted an investigation into opioid makers and came away with some interesting facts.

Between 2012 and 2017, pharmaceutical companies, including Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin and Insys Therapeutics, maker of Subsys (Fentanyl) funded organizations to the tune of approximately $9 million. One of the organizations benefiting from the windfall was the U.S. Pain Foundation in an effort to shape the policy and public opinion concerning opioids.

Guidelines were issued minimizing the risks of opioid addiction, lobbying to change laws aimed at curbing opioid abuse, promoting opioids for chronic pain and seeking to protect physicians sued for over-prescribing painkillers, according to the report.

Senator Alexander and his committee members might want to take the time to view the video link below. There is a trial going on now in Boston -- Insys Therapeutics, maker of Subsys (Fentanyl) and their CEO's accused of aggressively promoting Subsys for chronic pain resulting in death.

It had been approved by the FDA for treatment of pain in cancer patients. This video minimizes and makes a mockery of the dangers of opioids:

Senator Alexander, let me know when you will be holding a hearing for family members to testify how their loved ones were prescribed dangerous opioids, became addicted and died because of the criminal marketing by pharma. My guess is the families will not need to place any props on the Senate floor to gain your attention.

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Marianne Skolek-Perez, Salem-News.com Investigative Reporter, is an Activist for Victims of OxyContin and Purdue Pharma throughout the United States and Canada. In July 2007, she testified against Purdue Pharma in Federal Court in Virginia at the sentencing of their three CEO's - Michael Friedman, Howard Udell and Paul Goldenheim - who pleaded guilty to charges of marketing OxyContin as less likely to be addictive or abused to physicians and patients. She also testified against Purdue Pharma at a Judiciary Hearing of the U.S. Senate in July 2007. Marianne works with government agencies and private attorneys in having a voice for her daughter Jill, who died in 2002 after being prescribed OxyContin, as well as the voice for scores of victims of OxyContin. She is currently working on a book that exposes Purdue Pharma for their continued criminal marketing of OxyContin.

Marianne is a nurse, graduated in 1991 as president of her class, and also has a Paralegal certification. Marianne served on a Community Service Board for the Courier News, a Gannet newspaper in NJ, writing articles predominantly regarding AIDS patients and their emotional issues. She was awarded a Community Service Award in 1993 by the Hunterdon County, NJ HIV/AIDS Task Force in recognition of and appreciation for the donated time, energy and love in facilitating a Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS.

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