Dad says he can “feel himself dying“. He has a lot of problems with horrible chronic pain and a failed back, and this anti-opioid hysteria has caused the DEA to harass his doctors so they won’t write his prescriptions anymore. He got a letter from Medicare that they won’t pay for his most important pain meds anymore. It’s completely fucked. America is SO fucking backwards. They are punishing law abiding people who get medication they truly need from reputable doctors, because some people abuse medications. It is not fair and it fucking PISSES ME OFF. Dad is in so much pain he can’t even sit down, he mostly stands, maybe for the last month. He has so many other problems that I cannot discuss here, but believe me when I say it’s fucking awful. He really thinks he is dying. He’s so depressed and actually cried a little this morning. Dad never cries.

I am going to write a strongly worded letter to my congressperson and senators because it’s all I can really do to help. Will they listen? I have no idea, but this ridiculous punishment of innocent people who NEED their medication has to stop.

As someone with bulging and ruptured discs in their back, I could end up like this and not have decent meds to control the pain. I have chronic pain too, but it’s nothing like his. But I’m unfortunately on that path, I think. I’ll be screwed without good meds. Everyone with this kind of pain will be screwed. This country is straight up DUMB sometimes in how it handles stuff. Our government is so damn stupid and tone-deaf. I don’t even have words for the contempt I feel. People are nothing but a number to them.