Thirty attorneys general speak out on pain management!(PAID ADVERTISEMENT) (Advertisement)

To: The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) From: The National Association of Attorneys General

January 19, 2005

We, the undersigned Attorneys General, write to express our concern about recent DEA actions with respect to prescription pain medication policy end to request a joint meeting with you ...

The National Association oF Attorneys General in 2003 adopted a Resolution Calling For a Balanced Approach to Promoting Pain Relief and Preventing Abuse of Pain Medications. Both these documents reflected a consensus among law enforcement agencies, health care practitioners, and patient advocates that the prevention of drug abuse is an important societal goal that can and should be pursued without hindering proper patient care. The iDEA Pain Guidelines] issued in 2004 appeared to be consistent with these principles, so we were surprised when they were withdrawn. The Interim Policy published on November 16, 2004 emphasizes enforcement, and seems likely to have a chilling effect on physicians engaged in the legitimate practice of medicine ...

We have learned that adequate pain management is often difficult to obtain because many physicians fear investigations and enforcement actions iF they prescribe adequate levels of opioids or have many patients with...