I can believe it. It makes total sense, seeing what I've been through for the past 3 years. It's amazing how the DEA controls a field that they truly have no business in - medicine. They are there to (I thought??) take care of illegal distribution of drugs that are being bought and sold illegally on the streets. Crack, cocaine, heroin and even illegally purchased and sold opiates - but the Feds are more interested in coming down on the patients that require these meds to stay alive, or at least live a life that is nearly free of pain (I would say mine is a 7-9 without meds and with meds is a 2 or 3, or 1 on a great day).

I do believe that those in the public eye who have used and abused drugs have upped the anty in regard to how the DEA looks at and acts in accordance to their drug arrests, but generally, they are, IMHO, being directed to arrest and then prosecute doctors who are prescribing medication to patients who will either abuse their meds or take them as prescribed. How can a doctor be responsible for an individual's actions? I believe that there is way too little accountibility for one's own actions in this country. We are always trying to find someone to blame if something horrific happens that is not the fault of another. There has to be someone to blame (but those in power of prosecution cannot look at it as individual accountibility), so the DEA is now directing their attentions to doctors who write for opiates. I cannot receive adequate medical care at all, and rely upon OP's for my medical care and to be able to do the things I used to do without the pain. I wake up and cannot even move - if this were to be my life, it would really just be existing.

I feel horrible for everyone suffering with pain and cannot find the adequate care we all deserve. I am paying exorbitant prices that I can't really afford, when, if I were to go through my HMO, we could have much more for our kids, our retirement, etc. It's absurd and reprehensible.

Corrie