Sean Mackey, MD: The Opioid Crisis - Leveraging Learning Healthcare Systems

Dr. Sean Mackey discusses how new systems of data and analysis can be used to improve how and when opioids are prescribed.

The opioid crisis special session will be moderated by Joanne Kenen Executive Editor, Health at POLITICO. It will focus on engaging different perspectives surrounding the opioid crisis and address questions such as: What are the issues surrounding medical access and opioid abuse? What is the role of technology and design in addressing these questions? What are the opportunities and obstacles to changing the culture?

[buddha]

I'm not sure if this channel is monitored by Stanford or Dr. Mackey but I'm reaching out non the less...

I am and have been for years living with severe chronic pain due to an initial accident that was incurred in the military. I have since had back surgery, as well as all four(4) extremities fractured(this included Tib/fib as well as bi-lateral femurs, pelvis, wrist, humerus, trapezium just to name a few).

I have been managing my chronic severe pain very well since 1988 with the help of the Veterans Affairs doctors. But in 2015 my back surgeon advised me to request an internal pump and the very pain clinic that recommended the pump in 2009 denied it only to suggest that I continue back injections even though the last one(1) i had hospitalized me. Regardless to say, I tried to convey my pain to the VA pain clinic who merely said too bad and told the chief of ambulatory medicine that i should be taken off all pain relieving medications.

They took me off my primary long acting opioid over a period of 10 months and I now live in constant pain with minimal(my opinion) relief due to the current dosing of medication given.

My primary care Physician asked me the other day "when" are we reducing my daily intake. I explained that we have done nothing to alleviate any of my symptoms as that was goal. She insisted I try to take 1/2 a tablet(2.5mg) and see if that helps, I explained that the current dosage (5mg) barely helps and that my quality of life is suffering.

I then told her that I will begin self medicating with whatever I can obtain if she persists to harm me, I explained that I would try Marijuana (I have never smoked anything nor have I ever used illicit drugs of any sort). Her exact words to me were "maybe you should try that", then she told me to ask the pain clinic docotr(D. Deere, St. Francis Hospital) in WV if he could recommend it.

Here is the issue I see, number one(1)... I am a totally disable American veteran who is SUPPOSED to be treated and cared for by the VETERANS Administration this very entity is now telling to find an ILLEGAL source and try it! Here is the kicker, my Physician told me that it takes 30 days for the drug to leave my system should I try it, if she calls me in and drug tests me and finds marijuana in my system then she will be FORCED to take me off the current medication. Just so you know, my current resident status is Ohio, medical marijuana is NOT legal as of yet but I have a physician who is a federal employee telling to go try it instead of.a CONTROLLED medication program.

Synopsis: I am afraid that I am going to end up like that girl you mentioned in this video.... something that would be a tragedy for sure, to force someone who has followed ALL the rules for years into making a choice of being in a "supervised" chronic care management program or forcing them onto the streets.

This is what the American FDA and so called Pain specialists are doing to those of us who NEED specialized treatment plans.

I pray at times that I don't wake up from sleep because it's just another miserable day of pain...