Opioids: A different view

I know opioid abuse is a problem. But for those of us who have pain, whether it's chronic back pain or acute pain following surgery, opioids are a blessing. They may not eliminate the pain, but they can make it bearable. However, we seem to only hear about the abusers.

Your doctor must determine that you need relief before prescribing an opioid. And since it's federally regulated, the prescription must be hand carried to the pharmacy. It can't be called in like most prescriptions. This is not a big deal if you live close to the doctor and pharmacy and can drive, but it becomes more of a problem otherwise. Your doctor, pharmacy, and insurance provider have records of your prescriptions, but of course if you "doctor shop," there is potential for abuse.

Some politicians have pushed for a government-run drug-monitoring program, yet there is scant evidence that such programs help. According to one source, Missouri ranks low in opioid prescriptions per capita, even though Missouri is the only state without an opioid monitoring program.

I'm not denying that opioids are abused. I'm just questioning whether a government-run drug-monitoring program would help. I fear such a program would be another expensive, ineffective government enterprise, requiring more data entry by overworked health workers, and putting more private information at risk. Before implementing such a program in Missouri, let's see some hard evidence that it will help.

Gary L. Gaines, Cape Girardeau