Stop the Opiate Tax aka The Lifeboat Act
Public Comments (806)
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Jun 14th, 2016Someone from Cleveland, GA writes:
Why do you want to punish people in pain under the guise if helping others? It's ********! It's discriminatory! Less than 5% of opiate users are addicted or abuse the drugs. Why don't you use your time and energy to legalize alternatives to opioids if you're so concerned about addiction. -
Jun 14th, 2016Someone from Lexington, SC writes:
If you are going to tax based on "per mg", that is not fair. Some opioids on a mg per mg basis are more potent than others. Equianalgesic dosage table Codeine (PO): 200 Fentanyl (Transdermal): 0.2 Hydrocodone (PO): 30 Hydromorphone (PO): 7.5 Levorphanol (acute PO): 4.0 Levorphanol (chronic PO): 1.0 Meperidine (PO): 300 Methadone (acute PO): 10 Morphine (acute PO): 60 Morphine (chronic PO): 30 Oxycodone (PO): 20 Oxymorphone (PO): 10 Tapentadol (PO): 75-100 So, Nucynta 100mg (tapentadol) is equivalent to Dilaudid (hydromorphone) 7.5mg. If a patient is taking Nucynta 100mg 4 times daily, then their tax would be $4 per day (1cent x 400); Now, multiply that by 30 days in a month and that equals $120..... However, if same patient is taking Dilaudid (hydromorphone 7.5mg 4 times daily) the tax would be 7.5 cents per dose or 30cents per day or $9/month. How is this fair? Whoever came up with this proposed law should have consulted someone with knowledge of how one mg of one drug does not equal a mg of another drug. It's like comparing apples and oranges. This proposed law makes no sense. If they want to tax a person who has lost his/her job, independence, relationships and so much more because he/she is in chronic pain or has been diagnosed with a disease that is not cancer yet the pain is ever constant, all I can say is "Shame on you"! Why don't you take all the money that is seized from drug dealers and contribute it to a fund to treat patients who are addicted. By the way, will this fund be for patients who have been taking pain medicine legally or just for any addict who could, for example, be living on the street and doing heroin or other illegally obtained drugs? I would love to be provided with data of how many people per year go into treatment because of taking drugs as prescribed for chronic pain. " ("(Sen.)King said the fee would range between 75 cents and $3 for a 30-day prescription" is simply NOT true. Senator King is truly ignorant without a doubt and should be embarrassed by this bill and his stupid statements. These Senators know nothing about addiction, treatment, or the diseases that require opioids in order for a patient just to maintain a reasonable quality of life.REPORT COMMENTS
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Jun 14th, 2016Someone from Redmond, WA writes:
I wish they would stop with the 'knee jerk, let's legislate a solution' reaction to every crisis that pops up! They end up legislating a mess that has to be amended several times to fix the harm they do by not looking at all sides of the problem to start with. There are people who absolutely need, and responsibly use, these medications. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, who safely use them. Adding more cost burden & social stigma does more harm. Stop alreadyREPORT COMMENTS
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Jun 14th, 2016Someone from Moxee, WA signed.
Jun 14th, 2016Someone from Oceanside, CA writes:
Agreed, taxing what for some is a necessity for any measure of a quality of life, will only harm them. Besides, taxing it through sales will only take money from other tax programs because prescriptions are a legitimate tax deduction.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 14th, 2016Someone from Carlsbad, CA writes:
Please, those who are in pain due to chronic disease lose time from work, do not get sick pay for everyday they are home sick, on top of medical bills, emergency room costs, insurance deductibles (if they have insurance). A good program should be funded by those who must go thru rehab or thru charitable organizations. Not funded by those who are truly suffering in pain and must manage it with opioid medication. Thank you.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 14th, 2016Someone from Trenton, NJ signed.
Jun 14th, 2016Someone from Fultondale, AL signed.
Jun 14th, 2016Someone from Gadsden, AL signed.
Jun 14th, 2016Someone from National City, CA signed.
Jun 13th, 2016Someone from Hinckley, MN signed.
Jun 13th, 2016Someone from Tupelo, MS signed.
Jun 13th, 2016Someone from Camino, CA writes:
As someone with a chronic incurable disease (Crohn's), I feel that this is a punishment for those of us that live most days in pain. I'm not hooked on it and I don't take it regularly. It's the only thing that helps me when I have a painful flare up. Why go after the chronically ill that follows the laws just so you can solve a problem with a few bad apples? This is discrimination!!!! If this passes I promise to fight this in court.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 13th, 2016Someone from Oklahoma City, OK signed.
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No, CancelJun 12th, 2016Someone from La Vernia, TX signed.
Jun 12th, 2016Someone from Satellite Beach, FL writes:
Let them eat cake, for we do not care if the citizens live or die. Preferably, die please.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 12th, 2016Someone from Houston, TX signed.
Jun 12th, 2016Someone from Elizabethville, PA signed.
Jun 12th, 2016Someone from Houston, TX signed.
Jun 12th, 2016Someone from San Marcos, CA signed.
Jun 12th, 2016Someone from Rancho Cucamonga, CA writes:
My daughter has total spinal degeneration from a genetic disease and has trouble getting and affording adequate pain control. This isn't going to help those who DO need these..nor discourage those who are already abusing them.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 12th, 2016Someone from Saint Louis, MO signed.
Jun 12th, 2016Someone from Yakima, WA signed.
Jun 12th, 2016Someone from Salt Lake City, UT writes:
What are you guys thinking??? "Let's make it worse for those with chronic pain, while we make it easier for addicts, who will always find drugs anyway?REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 12th, 2016Someone from Nevada City, CA signed.
Jun 11th, 2016Someone from Middletown, DE signed.
Jun 11th, 2016Someone from Lawton, OK writes:
I can't believe you are trying to tax opoid drugs; I mean what are we paying taxes on if our physicians are afraid to prescribe our meds???REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 11th, 2016Someone from Bothell, WA signed.
Jun 11th, 2016Someone from Salem, OR signed.
Jun 11th, 2016Someone from Westminster, MD signed.
Jun 11th, 2016Someone from Arlington, TN writes:
First, the war on pain medications is having an already negative impact on chronic pain patients and this will only be another misplaced assault. While some people do misuse the medication, most patients do NOT and this is wrong!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 11th, 2016Someone from Chicago, IL writes:
This is one more weapon in the War on Opioids. I've read estimates that out of the millions of people that have been prescribed opioids, 3-5% become addicts. The addiction rate is horrid and we need to find a way to help the addicts, and a way to prevent future addicts. HOWEVER, 95-97% of people whose doctors have prescribed opioids use them properly in correct dosages as prescribed by their doctors who carefully, thoroughly and frequently monitor their patients. What are all those patients suppose to do? Learn to live with it? If they could "live with it" and function at any sort of adequate level, they wouldn't be on the meds to begin with. Cutting people off meds that they need so desperately without being able to offer them other medication which works as well to control their pain (in most cases, it is CONTROL, not eliminate) is inhumane and should be illegal. Denying prescription pain relief often leads to illegal drug use in an effort to self-medicate, and already lead to suicides. It certainly violates the "physician do no harm" principal. This is not to deny or lessen the horrors of addiction. But to harm, and often destroy 95% of the millions to possibly help the 5% is not logical or proper or civilized.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 11th, 2016Someone from Chicago, IL writes:
This is one more weapon in the War on Opioids. I've read estimates that out of the millions of people that have been prescribed opioids, 3-5% become addicts. The addiction rate is horrid and we need to find a way to help the addicts, and a way to prevent future addicts. HOWEVER, 95-97% of people whose doctors have prescribed opioids use them properly in correct dosages as prescribed by their doctors who carefully, thoroughly and frequently monitor their patients. What are all those patients suppose to do? Learn to live with it? If they could "live with it" and function at any sort of adequate level, they wouldn't be on the meds to begin with. Cutting people off meds that they need so desperately without being able to offer them other medication which works as well to control their pain (in most cases, it is CONTROL, not eliminate) is inhumane and should be illegal. Denying prescription pain relief often leads to illegal drug use in an effort to self-medicate, and already lead to suicides. It certainly violates the "physician do no harm" principal. This is not to deny or lessen the horrors of addiction. But to harm, and often destroy 95% of the millions to possibly help the 5% is not logical or proper or civilized.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 11th, 2016Someone from Cumming, GA writes:
I have a spinal cord injury. I take opiates on a daily basis in order to function, not to get high from them. The people who are abusing them and dying from overdoses are abusing opiates, not using them for pain relief. To tax those of us who need it to function daily, is a direct slap in the face of the Americans With Disabilities Act. To say that those of us who legally take these medications and do not abuse them should pay for the people who do abuse them is absolutely ludicrous. How dare you try to take away my rights as an American and my rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Shame on you for assuming that you know more about my condition and needs then my expertly trained doctors do.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 11th, 2016Someone from Lynbrook, NY writes:
We already can't afford the meds we need to live just a little normal life . Stop this abuse of the disabled . We did not ask to be sick .REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 11th, 2016Someone from Fredericksburg, VA signed.
Jun 11th, 2016Someone from Houston, TX writes:
This will hurt only the people that depend on their DOCTOR's judgement. People crowing into the *Pill Mills* buying for RESALE ON THE STREET will find another way. They always DO.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 11th, 2016Someone from Grand Island, NY writes:
This is another example of the war on the handicapped and disabled of our country. Please stop hurting us we only want a chance to live , function, and be productive members of our communities. STOP this inhumane treatment now .Please have mercy .REPORT COMMENTS
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