In my years as a nurse working in a drug detox unit, I’ve witnessed both the crushing grip of addiction and the grueling journey of recovery. I’ve held patients’ hands through the agony of withdrawal, watched families struggle to support loved ones through treatment, and seen the toll it takes on everyone involved. What makes this more troubling is how often these stories begin not with illegal drugs, but with a legitimate prescription for pain management. As someone who has seen the brutal reality of addiction up close, I know our best solution is prevention.
That’s why I strongly support the Alternatives to Prevent Addiction in the Nation (Alternatives to PAIN) Act. This legislation would ensure Medicare covers non-addictive pain medications without requiring seniors to jump through hoops or pay more than they would for opioids. It’s a straightforward solution that will prevent countless cases of addiction before they begin.
When Medicare coverage makes it easier to get addictive opioids rather than safer alternatives, we’re not just failing our seniors – we’re actively steering them toward medications that could destroy their lives. I’ve seen Ohioans from all walks of life enter our detox unit, all struggling with an addiction that often began with pain management. Each time, I wondered if their story might have been different if they’d had access to non-addictive options from the start.
The frustrating reality is that safer options exist. There are a handful of FDA approved non-opioid pain medications that can be used to treat serious pain but don’t carry the same risks of addiction. But for seniors on Medicare Part D, these innovative treatments often come with higher costs or require them to try – and potentially become dependent on – opioids first. After watching patients progress from prescription to addiction and then through agonizing recovery, I can tell you this approach defies both medical sense and basic human compassion.
Every patient I treated in detox is another family in crisis. Adult children watching their parents struggle with dependency. Grandchildren missing their grandparents’ presence at family gatherings. Retirement savings depleted by treatment costs. The human cost is staggering, but so is the financial burden on our healthcare system. When we could prevent these tragedies by simply making safer medications readily accessible, why wouldn’t we?
The best medicine prevents problems before they start. We shouldn’t wait until someone develops an opioid dependency to make safer pain management options available. The Alternatives to PAIN Act would help break this cycle by ensuring seniors have access to the safest possible treatments from day one.
The choice is clear: we can continue a system that pushes seniors toward addictive medications, or we can pass legislation that gives them access to safer alternatives. Having witnessed so much suffering and strain, I know which option makes more sense. It’s time for Ohio’s congressional delegation to join Congressman Balderson in supporting the Alternatives to PAIN Act and help us prevent addiction before it starts.
Marti Wells
Uhrichsville, OH
