Lynn Webster, M.D., Author at The Painful Truth

Utah Opioid Crisis Summit

University of Utah’s Summit Addressed State’s Opioid Problem

On April 23, 2018, the University of Utah’s summit convened to discuss how to solve the state’s opioid problem.

The summit’s goal was to identify barriers faced by health care providers and others in providing effective treatment of pain and addiction. The participants’ diverse professional backgrounds provided an opportunity for a productive conversation.

Participants included physicians, pain specialists, addiction recovery therapists, child welfare advocates, pharmacists, defense attorneys, prosecutors, drug court representatives, poison control specialists, data specialists, public health officials, specialists in harm reduction, and many others who are involved in the opioid crisis.

Repeating the Mistakes of the Past

I’m pleased to present a blog written by Megan Nalamachu who is a bright, articulate high school student.

Her father, Dr. Srinivas Nalamachu, is a treasured colleague and friend. He proudly sent me his daughter’s well-researched work, because he believed I’d be interested in it. He was correct. Megan did a wonderful job rendering a powerful piece that, in my opinion, is well worth sharing.

My usual disclaimer applies. Megan’s article reflects her own views. They are not necessarily my own, nor do they represent medical advice.

Megan Nalamachu, it’s a privilege for me to publish your work. Thank you for your contribution.

Prescription Drug Advertisements

Selling Prescription Drugs via Direct-to-Consumer Advertising

“Next year, how about fewer ads that fuel opioid addiction and more on access to treatment,” White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough complained on Twitter.

“Was that really an ad for junkies who can’t [poop]? America, I luv ya but I just can’t keep up,” TV host Bill Maher tweeted.

These are only two insensitive comments that were made by high-profile individuals in response to AstraZenca’s 2016 Super Bowl ad, “Envy.”

Family of Pain

Failing to Understand the Experience of Pain

Most people in pain do not like talking about their pain problem with others. When they do mention it to friends and family, they generally are disappointed at the responses. People are well intended, at least initially, but they can be insensitive. Fundamentally, they fail to understand what someone in pain is experiencing, so they can only provide a limited amount of support.

The ACPA Presents Programs for Migraine Sufferers

Migraine Awareness

According to Penney Cowan, Founder and CEO of the Founder and CEO of the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA), “More than 29.5 million Americans suffer from migraines, with women being affected three times more often than men.”

Contrary to the popular misconception, a migraine isn’t just a severe headache. According to the ACPA, a migraine can cause intense throbbing or pulsing in one area of the head and is commonly accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can cause significant pain for hours, or days, and be so severe that all a migraine sufferer can think about is finding a dark, quiet place to lie down. Some migraines are preceded or accompanied by sensory warning symptoms (aura) such as flashes of light, blind spots, or tingling in the arm or leg.

Black Box Warnings

How Drugs Receive FDA Approval

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) is the watchdog agency that’s responsible for testing new medications before they are approved. Drug manufacturers seek approval from the FDA after they have conducted numerous clinical trials and submitted all of their data to the FDA for review. Drugs are approved only if the FDA believes the data supports the efficacy for the targeted indication and that the drugs’ risks are reasonable and manageable.

Lessons Learned from Someone Who Has Struggled With Addiction

In the February 19, 2018 Refinery29 documentary, producer Jacki Huntington shares the stories of Dr. Lipi Roy, Kassandra Frederique of the Drug Policy Alliance, and Cortney Lovell. These women are working to solve the opioid crisis through their work in addiction medicine, drug policy, and recovery services.

Courage in Escaping the Grip of Addiction

In an accompanying essay, Cortney Lovell courageously tells her story of trying to escape the grip of addiction. Lovell has been in recovery for heroin addiction for ten years, and she understands the tremendous effort and frustration that goes into reentering society while bearing the stigma of addiction and a record of incarceration.

Open Letter to Journalists and Editors About “Addicted Babies”

Babies Cannot Be Born Addicted to Drugs

“Babies Born Addicted,” “Addicted Babies,” “Babies with Addiction,” and similar headlines appear nearly daily in the media. This is because babies exhibit horrible withdrawal symptoms if they are born physically dependent on opioids, and it pulls at our heartstrings to see them suffer. But it misleads media consumers, policymakers, and family members into believing the newborns are addicted. They confuse signs of withdrawal with opioid addiction.

Confusion is understandable. Yet the fact is that babies cannot be born addicted to drugs, and they don’t deserve the stigma that accompanies the label.

Why Is Chronic Lyme Disease Controversial?

Novelist Amy Tan’s Experience With Lyme Disease

On her web site, bestselling novelist Amy Tan shares her belief that she has late-stage neuroborreliosis, or Lyme disease. She suspected she might have Lyme disease because of her mysterious symptoms that included migrating aches and neuropathy, a racing heart, hallucinations, getting lost in familiar places, difficulty talking, plunging blood sugar, insomnia, and fatigue. She finally found a doctor who was able to confirm the diagnosis. After years of expensive treatment, Tan can now manage her symptoms, but she doesn’t expect to ever be cured.

Body Pains That May Be an Early Sign of HIV

This is an article by Cara Smith. I offer it with the author’s permission for informational purposes. The author and I have no financial involvement.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE HER OWN AND DO NOT REPRESENT MY VIEW OR MEDICAL ADVICE.

Photo by Kat Love on Unsplash

HIV is a disease that scratches out the immunity system and makes a person vulnerable to more opportunistic diseases which kill the person and not the HIV.

A person who is diagnosed with an HIV faces numerous health issues that affect both physiological and bodily aspects of the person.

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