I Never Shilled for Pharma

May 11, 2012

I am writing in response to Marianne Skolek’s column of May 9, published in the American News Report. Contrary to Skolek’s report, Dr. Andrew Kolodny, the president of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing (PROP), is engaging in partisan rhetoric that hobbles the discussion of the treatment of chronic pain. I have been a volunteer advocate, [...]

FDA Warns Against Long Term Use of Bone Drugs

May 10, 2012
bonedrugs

An FDA review of bone building drugs widely used to treat osteoporosis has found that they provide little if any benefit after long term use – and may even lead to more bone fractures. About 10 million Americans suffer from chronic pain caused by osteoporosis and bisphosphonates have long been recommended as a way to [...]

Senate Probe Targets Drug Makers, Pain Organizations and Pain Physicians

May 9, 2012
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A U.S. Senate investigation of the pharmaceutical industry targets some of the nation’s most prominent drug makers, medical organizations and pain physicians who advocate the use of narcotic painkillers. Citing an “epidemic of accidental deaths and addiction” caused by opioid painkillers, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Montana) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) sent letters [...]

Demise of American Pain Foundation Can Help End the Opioid Lunacy

May 9, 2012
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In the lunacy of the over-prescribing of opioids for all levels of pain in the U.S. and Canada, there is now a large dose of sanity.  That sanity is an organization called Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing (PROP).  Their mission is to reduce morbidity and mortality from opioids and to promote cautious, safe, and responsible [...]

Sad Day for Pain Community

May 8, 2012
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As the founder and past chairman of the National Pain Foundation (NPF), I can say that the demise of the American Pain Foundation (APF) is sad news for people living with pain. Although the NPF focused on education and empowerment of those affected by pain, APF had a complementary focus on legislative action  — both [...]

American Pain Foundation Calls It Quits

May 8, 2012
APF

The American Pain Foundation, a non-profit organization that came under fire for its ties to the pharmaceutical industry, has abruptly ceased operations. “With deep regret and heavy hearts, we sadly inform you that due to irreparable economic circumstances, APF must cease to exist, effective immediately,” the foundation said in a brief statement on its website. [...]

New Blue Cross Rules Limit Access to Painkillers

May 8, 2012
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The largest health insurer in Massachusetts is adopting a new program that could significantly limit the amount of pain medication patients receive. The policy, unveiled this week by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, is one of the strictest taken by a private insurer and is the latest in a series of efforts around the [...]

Addicted to Facebook? Take This Test and Find Out

May 8, 2012
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We all knew it was going to happen sooner or later. Researchers have developed a test to determine whether we’re addicted to Facebook. Dr. Schou Andreassen, a psychologist from Norway, has developed what she calls the “Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale” in order to test for the time-consuming addiction. Her research, the first of its kind, [...]

Painkiller Abuse Often Starts in High School

May 8, 2012
highschool

The risk of misusing prescription painkillers peaks earlier than many experts thought – at age 16 — according to a nationwide survey by Michigan State University researchers. At that age, about one in 30 youths start using painkillers to get high. “While much of the previous thinking was that misuse of these drugs emerged in [...]

Sports at a Young Age Can Help Prevent Osteoporosis in Men

May 7, 2012
soccer

Young men rarely think about growing old, fracturing a hip when they’re elderly, or having chronic pain from osteoporosis. But based on a new Swedish study, maybe they should. That’s because young men who participate in load bearing sports — like volleyball, basketball, tennis and soccer — are better protected against osteoporosis as they age, [...]

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