WHEN THE PAIN IS CHRONIC

To the Editor:

John Tierney ("A Taste of His Own Medicine," column, May 6) hits the
nail on the head when he suggests that drug war prosecutions, like
those of Rush Limbaugh or Richard Paey, are more for show than for
actual enforcement purposes.

Unfortunately, these prosecutions also reinforce a medical culture
that routinely hardens itself against the anguished pleas of people
in serious pain.

An Internet study presented at the annual meeting of the American
Pain Society last week in San Antonio, Tex., revealed that while 88
percent of those who visit emergency rooms do so because of
out-of-control pain, only 15 percent said they received immediate treatment.

If any other segment of our population were being discriminated
against in such a damaging way, the outcry would be tremendous. But
because of our society's obsession with rooting out addiction, we
look the other way as people in pain are systematically abused by
health care professionals.

The drug war, thus understood, is a crime against our most vulnerable
population, those in serious, chronic pain.

Siobhan Reynolds

President, Pain Relief Network