Editor, Gazette-Journal:

I read with much interest and some anger, or maybe I should say with some interest and much anger, your article on the opioid epidemic (“Mathews not immune to opioid epidemic,” page 11B, June 29 Gazette-Journal). Your article was well written and informative.

My issue is with the focus of your article, a focus that seems to be shared by all reporters, newscasters and legislators these days. According to the CDC, one in four opioid users become addicted and they are the people that everyone seems to focus on. When is anyone going to focus on and stand up for the majority … the three in four that do not abuse their opioids … the three in four that are mostly chronic pain patients and depend on these drugs to improve their quality of life? Yet, due to the crackdown on opioid prescriptions, it has become practically impossible for us to obtain these medications.

I am a chronic pain patient. I have used Vicodin for 15 years. When I first became ill, my rheumatologist would write me a prescription for a three-months’ supply of Vicodin. Taken three times a day, that was 270 pills. That prescription would last me one-and-a-half years or more. When the government crackdown on these prescriptions happened, my rheumatologist was forced to decrease my prescription to a month’s supply or 90 pills. No problem.

Then the next crackdown came and his practice no longer provided pain relief for “chronic pain patients,” the category in which I fall. I was referenced to a “pain management clinic.” After being evaluated at this clinic, I was told that they do not prescribe any opioid medications. I was placed on 5 mg of Morphine a day and had to come in monthly for a “pee test” to make sure I was taking no other pain control drugs. I was told I had to take the Morphine daily, unlike the opioid that I could only take when needed. In order for the Morphine to get my pain managed, it had to be taken daily to build in my system. I was also told that the dosage would need to be increased in intervals to maintain a positive effect on my pain management. Now pray tell me how that is better than how I controlled my pain for the last 15 years? Pray tell me how I will not become addicted to Morphine?

I have an established (and easily verifiable) 15-year history of not abusing a drug that greatly helps increase the quality of my life but can no longer obtain. I am sick and tired of hearing about how we need to help the abusers, addicts and fight the overdoses. Yes, they need help, but not at my expense!

I did not choose to become sick … I did not choose to live a life of constant pain. They chose to put that needle in their arm.

My message to reporters, newscasters and legislators: For once, look at me and the thousands like me who are truly paying the price for the addicts. Watch me not able to hold my granddaughter because my pain is so out of control I am afraid I will drop her. See my pain and tears when I cannot perform the simple task of dressing myself.

No one comes to my rescue. But if I choose to put that needle in my arm, everyone will gather around me to offer help. Millions will be spent to aid me. I, figuratively speaking, will be in the news almost daily.

Susan Krista

Mathews, Va.