PAIN RELIEF? CALL DEA

The next time you have severe or chronic pain, are you ready to call a
narcotics detective for advice? The news in the high-profile
investigation of Rush Limbaugh indicates that we are one step closer
to having all of our personal medical decisions made by police
officers instead of doctors.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is made up of police officers, not
medical professionals. Yet they will decide when someone seeking
legitimate pain relief has enough medication.

If the nonmedical DEA and other state law-enforcement officers can
tell Limbaugh his legal limits on pain relief, they can tell us all.
Those of us who don't medicate as instructed by these cops will face
arrest, prosecution and mandatory prison time.

STEPHEN HEATH

Public relations director

Drug Policy Forum of Florida

Clearwater