Pubdate: Sun, 03 Apr 2016
Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA)
Copyright: 2016 The Press Democrat
Contact:  http://www.pressdemocrat.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/348
Author: Liz George

OPIOIDS AND PAIN

EDITOR: As a public health nurse, I appreciate Dr. Erin Lund's Close 
to Home column ("A message of hope for opioid-addicted pregnant 
women," March 26). However, I would like to point out that many of 
the women I see are actually using prescription opioid medications as 
prescribed by their doctors.

When I ask about substance use, these women say "none." It is not a 
"substance" to them. It's a prescription.

The problem is so much larger than addiction. It starts with primary 
care doctors prescribing opiates for chronic pain conditions. Until 
we have good alternative treatment pain clinics available, people 
will be given opiates to treat chronic pain - and some of those 
people will become pregnant.

LIZ GEORGE

Sebastopol
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