In June 2020, the Australian government, via the TGA, increased restrictions around the prescription of opioids for chronic non-cancer pain. While these are well intentioned, and fit for purpose as written, they have been widely MISINTERPRETED and MISAPPLIED by many doctors, who have forced tapered their patients, who live with severe, daily pain, off their opioid pain relieving medications. PLEASE READ MORE BELOW THE PETITION.
Please sign our petition, our target is , we have 0 so far.
Many people who rely on long term opioid therapy have been force tapered, and forced so suffer constant, severe pain. People who were once able to work, take care of their families and be active members of their communities are now disabled, living in constant pain, and suffering needlessly. (more information below the petition form)
Many have been forced to live in poverty on the Disability Support Pension and access NDIS for daily help with daily living.
This is 100% unnecessary.
People who were previously stable and doing well on long term opioid therapy have been needlessly disabled and continue to suffer. These are people who want pain relief, so that they can return to to living full, functional, lives. While opioids are NOT the appropriate treatment for many people, for some, opioids are the only treatment that reduces pain enough to lead a functional life. Opioids should always be a treatment of last resort, and be included as part of a multidisciplinary pain management program.
Opioids are MEDICINE. They relieve severe pain. They are the only medications that relieve severe pain. And contrary to the media tropes, and disinformation, opioids DO work long term, opioids do NOT increase pain, most people are on stable doses for years or even decades, and most importantly of all in the chronic pain community addiction is rare and overdose is rare.
PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION so that we can take the issue to the Health Minister, Mark Butler, and show him that:
- This is a serious issue that is happening now and affecting many people in the chronic pain community.
- People are suffering needlessly and are being harmed, becoming disabled needlessly and
- we, as VOTERS, are angry and we will continue to educate and advocate and for proper pain management that includes opioids for those who need them.
Most people do not need long term opioid therapy, but for those who do, opioids are life saving medicine. Opioids are most often the cornerstone treatment that allow people to engage with physiotherapy, exercise, psycholgoical and mindfulness therapies.
We are NOT pro-opioid, we are pro proper pain mangement, multidisciplinary pain management that INCLUDES opioids.
Please, if you live with chronic pain, or if you know someone who lives with chronic pain, sign this petition.
Remember: you are only one accident, diagnosis, or really bad day from a LIFETIME of severe chronic pain. If that happened to you, wouldn’t you want pain relief?
At some point in their lives, EVERYONE will experience pain. Most people’s pain goes away. Think about the worst pain you’ve every experienced. What if that pain did NOT go away? What if you had to live with it every day? What would YOU want for yourself?
Please help.