Make your experience count.
Prescription Drug Misuse Meeting in Halifax June 14-15
Friday, June 15, 2012 – Prior to the last six months, I spent a lot of time seeking out groups who were prepared to have patients join them in their discussions. Now, I have increasingly been attending meetings of groups who have, for the very first time, invited a patient representative to join them. They are now seeking out the Patients’ Association of Canada to find patient representatives to join them.
What is very interesting is how much their deliberations change once patients are in the room. They begin to recognize how little input patients have made up until now, and how patients offer a different perspective on the issues these groups face.
I spent this morning with a national group that was formed to develop recommendations for dealing with the misuse of prescription drugs. For the moment, I was the only patient representative in the room, although other groups previously had long and intimate contact with patients. I explained how to add more about the patient experience to the process, and pointed to the fact that patients should also have access to more information.
At the end of the meeting someone else raised the idea that patients who had experience with prescription drug misuse should join the group. That was the high point of my two days in Halifax.
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Comments
Chronic Pain Sufferer: Effects bc of Opiate Misuse Crisis
As a chronic pain SUFFERER (CPS) I feel our rights to treatment and the way we are treated as patients/human beings has been hugely affected since this opiate misuse crisis has begun. I understand it is a huge crisis and steps must be taken however I feel CPS have been ignored, and have had to pay the price for those abusing opiates. The way you are spoken too, drilled, in fear each time you go to get your pain medications that are keeping you alive and sane as you desparately pursue a permanent solution that doesn't include narcotics is very unfair for those who legitimately need these med's. I understand there are people faking pain to get med's but there are many CPS being denied medication, committing suicide because the pain is too much, being treated rudely etc. Where are our rights? If you were a fly on the wall at doctor visits you would be shocked at the abuse we have to take, the way we are talked to etc. Why? Because we unfortunately have the disease called Chronic Pain. If I was a diabetic, had high blood pressure etc. my treatment by dr's would be totally different. There must be a way that this crisis can be dealt with without the mistreatment of those who have the disease of chronic pain and deserve the same courteous, friendly treatment as other patients. This medication keeps me alive without it I am done. As with many other diseases you have already lost everything: loss of enjoying life with your family, loss of job, loss of a social life/friends, loss of dreams and hopes for the future, your world is changed forever as you try to get through each day. Now geting your medications is one more stress added to the list. If you run out of medication bc for ex. your doctor went on holidays you cannot go to urgent care or a hospital for your life saving med's as you will be denied. Where are our rights? Why are we paying the price for others who have ruined it for us? I must stay alive for my children, why is there no focus on those who need opiates to stay alive? It is not my fault I have chronic pain, I would not wish this on my worst enemy. I would love to hear from others who are experiencing the same issue. What can we do to get our rights back? There must be a way for us to be respected by doctors vs looked down upon, given a hard time.
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