Hi Thallajen...
Hmmm.. Have seen it, Google on Youtube it's there.... It's horrific to see what had happened... The PM clinics were just "drug dealers" with a legal front... all about big $$ from the pharma companies through to the doctors..
This is the whole reason why CP patients are now suffering...

Sunnybunny... probably shouldn't watch it it will make your blood boil. lol....

Another thing that would shock you is a site called "bluelight" set up to supposedly protect drug users from harm, they teach individuals how to work to system and how to abuse prescription meds "safely"
.
I wrote a letter to the Australian Medical Authority re the Australian arm of the Bluelight site.(site origins are the US) .... received a letter back saying whilst they disagree with the sites protocols it's classed as Harm minimization... which doesn't breach current legislation.... Kids can go there and learn how to extract codeine from cold medicines, break the release mechanisms of Oxycontin, etc..etc etc.. to get high....

Really makes you wonder sometimes.... Thanks for brining it up, something I didn't want to..... as I know this will enrage many CP'ers and many people...

And YES... i wish they would do a documentary on how these medications help to bring a "LIFE" back to people with chronic pain... instead of focusing on the harm that addicts CHOOSE to do to themselves....

Seekn1-
They teach kids to...I think my blood would boil, too. That documentary I mentioned made me so angry I was up all night so a website like that...

Maybe it is time we GET enraged. Ya know? We sit here and I'm a good example of this, complain about people who abuse meds and how they're ruining lives, not just theirs but those of innocent CP patients. But what do I do? I've written my congressmen but that came to naught.

We need to network. We need to find people with the connections and talents to spotlight OUR lives.

I have a paper down on the table that has been there over a month. It's an application for a handicapped placard. I've been worried that to get one would make me a statistic. I need it, my doctor signed it for a permanent one, and maybe THAT is what scared me- that it is not going to get better. Also, I worry that I might take a space needed more by someone else. So I sit and worry about THAT and there's people out there teaching kids how to drink codeine and people how to abuse meds?

If this kidney stone didn't already have me vomiting, I think I would anyway. Why do people WANT that crap? Don't they realize the problems that come with it? I'm worried b/c my doctor signed an app for a permanent handicapped card b/c it means (to me) that he doesn't see me getting well and I'm damned to taking those pills forever, and there's people out there wanting to enslave themselves to meds without any reason?

I KNOW I was brought up a little naive but I'm a grown woman who shouldn't be shocked by this. Yet...I am. And if the movie made me sick, I KNOW that website would make me even sicker.

We SO need to get together on this subject and find someone who can truly stand up for us. I wish I knew someone looking for a documentary subject- I'd give them a piece of my mind, and then some.

Thanks. I am way past RAGE!!! LOL

Something has to be done. This is getting so far outta hand.
We are sick. We committed NO crimes.

The darn criminals get bail and outta jail multiple times. When do we get the right to be treated at least like criminals????

After the two weeks that I just had with a ruptured eardrum without anything beyond my regular BT meds because the nurse practioner at the pain clinic does not believe that this sort of thing hurts, I am really very angry.

If I let my animals be in this much pain without any relief, I'd be thrown into jail. But the darn pain clinics can let us suffer without consequence. It is past time that people whose only crime is being SICK are allowed at least the same treatment as an animal.
When did we become less than the four legged creatures.

I am so sorry guys. Maybe it is time that I figure out how to start something with some lawyer who is willing to defend human rights.
Any ideas where to start this?

Maybe when my ear feels better, I will calm down.
But really;
how many of us think of dying as relief?
how may honestly have a "plan"? not because we are depressed. It is because we are in pain.
how many don't sleep more nights than we do sleep?

How many other people could survive this sort of thing?
I wonder how many people actually do take their lives instead of live this way?

It just seems like we are the minority and we don't matter. If the homo sexual folks could get laws passed to protect their rights, why can't we? We need to ask them how to do this right?

Anyway, thanks for letting me vent yet again about the cruel lies of the "war on drugs".

All civil rights groups from women, to African-Americans to the LGTB Alliance started with need. They NEEDED to be treated like regular people, the human beings that they are, and American Citizens that they are or were (depending on the time frame here.) It's the same way people worked together to get the Vietnam War stopped. It's hard to believe in this day and age but that generation made a difference.

We already HAVE the need like they all did, now we need to gather as many people as we can. Unfortunately we're all over the place, many don't have $ to travel and many can't travel. So we congregate here. We've taken step one just by being here.

Now, we all need to write our reps. Find out who your Senators are, your Congress people on the state and Federal level. You write an email (they all have websites and now take email easier than letters) and tell them your story and how they can help. Is there a law being passed in your state that will make it more difficult on you as a CP patient? Tell them. Remember, these people want your vote and if we organize- the biggest step of all, we CAN make a difference.

This isn't a partisan issue. I don't care which way you vote or if you've never voted before. We can teach the important parts. Right now I hear there's a lot going on b/c of laws passed to stop the Pill Mills, but the laws are harming the CP patients there. Florida residents should be among the 1st to write.

And we need to find someone who has some social standing who will listen to us. Every talk show has a page where you can write in ideas for shows. I would suggest writing to Dr.Oz since HE showed some initiative in this. Also, Rosie'O'Donnel is looking for ideas. She has suffered from depression so she might be a helpful person. Anytime there's a 20/20 or Primetime- they get those ideas from people, not just their writers. We need to get this story out into the mainstream press.

This is what my beloved doctor was doing when he passed away. He spent his life speaking on our behalf. He was appalled at how we'd been treated and did something about it.

I think another good thing would be to contact the big groups who do represent CP patients. When I feel better (pass this stone) I'll look into that part. Because I remember there was a big group I used to help write for back when I was diagnosed and they worked to help CPers.

Meanwhile, remember your congresspeople. If they don't hear from you, we can't blame them for not doing anything. Also, when voting, watch out for wording. Propositions can be passed if we work hard enough, but they'll likely be state by state.

Meanwhile, we all stick together. That's as much as I can come up with after a night with a kidney stone, but I'm sure people have more ideas. We have to get over the "don't rock the boat" attitude and think about how we'd feel if suddenly our doc couldn't prescribe our meds b/c a law was passed, as happened in FL. That damn documentary made us all look like druggies and it is wrong!

I think that producer needs to receive a few emails from real CP patients. Let her know how much damage she did to us. Maybe she WILL care, or maybe she'll clutch her award and refuse to see there's 2 sides to every story. We won't know till we ask!

Great ideas! We need to ban together and stop this war on the ill.

I promise not to watch. Might have a stroke.

Maybe when this darn ear feels better....in 2015 maybe

I haven't seen the documentary so can't really comment on what they showed. But the many articles that I have read about Florida in particular show that there are many "pain clinics" that really are nothing more than drug dealers. These aren't legitimate doctors treating patients. These are people with MDs that allow them to write prescriptions.

Like with everything the innocent get punished along with the guilty. When some people run red lights they put in cameras and people who are just a little slow in stopping get tickets or there are accidents because people jam on their brakes. The guy who runs red lights might get a ticket but I bet he doesn't pay it, heck he probably doesnt even have a license.

Back to the clinics...the people to be mad at are these bogus doctors and the people who are seeking scripts to feed their addiction. Oh and maybe get a little mad at the doctor who shuts down his legitimate practice because he might have to do a little more paperwork or be extra careful when he sees patients. If we all decided to not do our jobs because there might be a risk then this country would grind to a stop.

I agree with everything said here.
Your right Sunny, I often say we don't let animals suffer but we'll stand by & let humans? Out or fear that we are all abusers? What about the patients that follow every single dang rule? Punish all of us?

They meaning the media do seem to cast narcotic use into negative light. No real importance emphasized on the need for the proper use.

Yes its fine to complain to each other but the right people have to hear our concerns so each of us should be contacting our government on each level to say more or less, hey what about us? We can be left to suffer because of poor choices other make?
If we cross our Ts & dot our Is why should be pay for crimes others commit?

What they are saying is we can't be trusted, our doctors can't be trusted & lets just not think of the people out there suffering every day of their life.

My PCP said yesterday during a visit you know we take life for granted. I can break my arm & be in pain & know its going to heal, but you must wonder whats it going to be like in 5yrs? There is no way we can understand what its like but I feel for you. At least he tries.
I wonder more then about my pain, I wonder about my care.
Should have said that but he's on the new side.
So give him time to get to know me,LOL.

Sad, really sad & as we speak people are suffering due to the bad choices of others.
I know of a young man who has abused for so many years. His punishment was to go to a Meth clinic. For a long long time. Makes me so dang mad. Hmm, now I wonder who's paying for this? I know he's not.

What about TV & the rich Hollywood big wigs, every time you turn around someones doing something they should not be doing.
Maybe they should take a look at those doctors more closely.
Crazy all of it.

I'm angry we are going to pay one way or another.
My PMs office declined new patients & 2 that called to come in from out of state. They said to many doctors & clinics getting into trouble you don't know where these people came from & who the doctors are.

I had no trouble during my appointment & even ask for my old medication back now that we have new insurance. I was nervous but thought hey what do I have to loose? Have a new PM my old one retired but promised if I had new insurance I could go on my old medication which my other insurance would not cover. Now I see his partner.
I'm tired of being in pain but I know with out my newest DX of RA I may have been denied.
I keeping my eyes & ears open. I'm waiting for this PM to talk about the changes he know my husband & I both. He knows Ive been going there for years.

God bless.
Sammy

This documentary aired on Current TV a few months ago now. I too saw it in disgust & anger.
I know the truth needs to be put out there for anything to be done about it however the truth of what REAL CP patients suffer through to even get any meds is also something that needs to be put out there.
Months ago I heard many of those "pill mills" in FL had closed but only a week ago on my local news did I hear of a gang that acted as a business had 15 people in a van going to FL to those "walk in welcome" places to get Opana; a drug that is now said to be more dangerous than Oxycontin ever was killing even more people who abuse it.
This "gang" was called the "Untouchables" & posed for pics, had a real CEO & financial officer bringing in over 3000 Opana a month into a rural area of KY. I am SO angered by this.
I don't like that documentaries like these show children how to abuse pills like in this documentary where it shows a man smoking Oxycontin off of foil paper bc they can no longer get to the insides of the drug since reformulation so Thanks for showing our youth how to abuse it now or even to put it in their heads to think to do so.
I get we have a major problem with a pain pill epidemic in this country but we have just as big a problem with people in REAL CP people that aren't getting any treatment because of this too.
Show that side also please someone.....
I have written to my state's Congress & Senate. I've written to the President. I often write to TV channels that do such documentaries & to those that do advocate for CP sufferers to get better treatment.
I have petitioned Oprah (when she had her show on reg TV) & Montel Williams & also Dr Drew to NO avail & NO reply even when there were actual petitions going around to get attention to pain diseases or lack of treatment.
I don't what we have to do to get attention at this point bc I feel nobody but us is listening & that angers me even more.
Rhonda, IN

You are so right about the addicts going to the meth clinic at someone else's expense.

I wonder how many pill mills were run by doctors who got the C's and D's who weren't able to obtain the earning power they wanted and decided to start a life of crime?????

Wow, I watched about half of the documentary and had to stop... it made my blood boil! I'm not even in the US but it affects us here in Canada too. My city in particular has a reputation - just this week there was a drug bust that involved cocaine, crack cocaine, oxycontin and dilaudid. Very few doctors will prescribe oxycontin around here or any other opiods for that matter. I'm lucky to have the one doctor in the province who believes pain patients and prescribes whatever is needed for that person.

I can't believe there is a website like that bluelight either, If a kid has even a thought of wanting to try something the information is all out there... everything is on the internet!

I won't even go on the website mentioned. With all the Patriot Act has done to take our rights away, I won't chance it! The Patriot Act gives the government the right to know every book you ever check out of the library, so just imagine what they can do with our computers!

IF someone wanted to make a case for someone being a drug addict, all they'd have to say is "Ladies and Gents of the Jury (Or, Doctor so and so) The defendant is clearly a druggie because they accessed the Blue Light Site which shows people how to abuse drugs." Case closed. Of course, that's not likely to happen, but why chance it?

I've posted several times over the past year about how important it is to rally together as CP patients. I've written my congressmen, I've watched for signs of anti-CP activity, and I mean it when I say that as many of us who are able should be doing something, even if it is just writing your senator an email. History is fascinating, and it teaches us how and when to strike.

I THOUGHT I had a chance the year MJ died. I answered a question on Oprah's website about drug abuse and was contacted by a producer there. I spoke at length about CP and how addicts are literally making our lives Hell. I spoke about the DEA and doctors who don't care. The producer was very interested and I had 3 calls from Harpo studios that day. The last one was to tell me that they were "going a different way" and the show that aired was the same old fluff about Michael and his "problem". That's Hollywood, or Chicago, as it is. The producer I spoke to was gung ho and wanted to do a show on it but it was shot down in the meeting.

We NEED spokespeople, and I am sorry to say that Paula Abdul is not exactly the person we're looking for. She lied about RSD and claimed to be cured of it, but her doctor came forward and said she was cured of another condition, NOT RSD. I like that doc b/c he knew that giving RSD patients hope like that was terrible.

Besides, I saw every episode of "Hey Paula" and as much as I admire her, there's no WAY she could move like that AND have RSD all over her body. And the way she slurred her words and acted crazy? When I 1st read she had it I was almost happy b/c I thought "Finally! RSD/CRPS will be in the news! People will know what it is and how we fell and on and on,,," Didn't happen.

I'm not saying I hope some celeb stubs her toe and gets RSD, but as we have no celeb spokesperson, we need someone with CP to stand up. While we have people making documentaries like "Oxycontin Express" there are still others out there who could do the research and talk to the docs and drug companies and DEA and especially, CP patients. There are a million filmmakers out there and this is such a huge subject!

I say we all at least TRY to network a little. You never know who is going to know whom, and maybe we'll find a network producer or even a talk show, as I mentioned. I've written to Oprah and got through so it can happen. My idea was turned down but it was almost her last season and there weren't many show slots left.

Try Dr.Oz, Rosie, Anderson Cooper or even Dr. Phil! Although I seem to think Phil wouldn't care much. He seems to put all medication users in one category. I'm just saying, especially as I started this post, that there are things we can do. As many have mentioned- start with emailing your congresspeople. Tell your stories. Let's get the info out there. If we all did one thing a month, just one, imagine how much more would be getting done?

I might be fired up b/c this whole thing sickens me, or b/c I've always jumped in to fight when I see something very wrong. I think I let RSD/CP make me too complacent. So from now on I pledge an hour a WEEK to writing to state and federal politicians. And I'll go from there. At least I'll feel I'm TRYING to make a difference.

OK, I watched it!!

I know, I know. I promised that I would not
What can I say.... I am weak.

I did notice one thing!
The people taking these were getting HIGH. Now I know the difference. They were sleepy and groggy and could not function.

Please, are any of you that way from your meds?
If meds make you that way, do you continue them?

I don't think we are addicts.

I watched part of it. Way one sided IMO. It's frightening to think of opiods being completely taken off the market due to others addiction. Where would those of us with legitimate pain be????

I definitely agree that people with chronic pain should have been represented. It's like we are being swept under the carpet by the DEA.

There's a world of difference between an addict and a patient.

Billy hit Sally and now EVERYONE has to stay in... from recess.

F'in insulting for people in REAL pain.

I still come from the camp of "why do OTHERS care... about... what I DO!!?????

pisses me right off.