Access to pain medications as a human right
Chronic pain is one of the most significant causes of suffering nationally and worldwide, and a common symptom for both cancer patients and people living with HIV/AIDS. Chronic pain has a profound effect on quality of life. It effects sleep, mobility, a persons ability to interact with loved ones, and even the immune system. It can even have a negative influence on disease outcomes. Many chronic pain patients have relied on effective pain medications to alleviate these symptoms. The World Health Orginization, along with other various national bodies, recommends the administration of analgesic medications such as morphine to treat HIV/AIDS patients living with moderate to severe pain. It even includes morphine and codeine on its Model List of Essential Medicines. Nearly 50 years ago the UN adopted the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), to combat the illicit trade and manufacturing of narcotics while ensuring the availability for scientific and medical purposes to alleviate pain and suffering. Yet, despite the existence of these internationa human rights laws, our own government has failed to ensure that people who have chronic pain have access to adequate pain treatment. These new unreasonable restrictive policies and guidelines are violation against the obligation to protect Americans from cruel, inhuman and degrading suffering.
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