I’d like to respond to a recent letter (“Pain management gravely misunderstood in Norris case,” March 24.) As someone who struggled with substance use throughout their life, I have strong opinions about the prescription drug industry and its impact on the opioid epidemic.

I started using opioids at the height of the OxyContin craze, when people made frequent trips to Florida to stock up on powerful prescription narcotics. Hundreds of “pill mills” were peddling opioids with no concern for patient safety. Since then, government regulations have resulted in a huge decrease in opioid prescribing.

Ten years later, the government has overstepped and is now arresting the few doctors left who safely and responsibly prescribe opioid analgesics for pain patients. I’ve been researching the case of Dr. Merideth Norris and, as far as I can tell, she was a responsible, compassionate and ethical prescriber who now faces 20 years in federal prison.

I would never suggest a solution that causes more problems for people with substance use disorder. However, there are patients who struggle with debilitating pain who need prescription opioids to function at the most basic level. Dr. Norris is one of the few doctors left who are willing to treat these patients.

We can’t end the overdose death epidemic by arresting physicians. To reduce overdose deaths in this country, we need to focus on prevention, education and harm reduction while ensuring that people in severe pain have the medications they need to live.

Chris Cayer
Stratton

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