A palliative medicine doctor shares the story of her patient, Teresa, who suffered from advanced cancer and relied on morphine for pain relief. Due to DEA cuts to opioid production quotas, pharmacies often ran out of stock, causing Teresa to struggle to access her medication. The doctor emphasizes that opioids are essential for managing pain in patients with serious illnesses, and shortages only lead to unnecessary suffering. The real issue lies in illicit drugs like fentanyl, not prescription opioids. The DEA should reconsider the proposed cuts to ensure patients like Teresa are not caught in the crossfire of the opioid epidemic.
Source link
DEA opioid medication production quotas lead to devastating pain
