Don’t punish patients who truly need pain pills
Thank you to Richard L. Martin for his Tuesday letter to the Review-Journal, “Opioid crackdown could hurt pain patients.” I, too, have non-cancer chronic pain controlled through opioid medication.
After two knee replacements, one less than perfect and one botched with resultant nerve damage, two subsequent surgeries to repair some of the nerve damage, and spinal osteoarthritis, the use of opioid medication is the realistic way to manage my pain level.
The current legislation already forces additional doctor visits to obtain prescriptions, which is an unnecessary financial burden for a senior citizen on a fixed income already stretched very thin. I do not have the resources for alternative medicines not covered by insurance and no desire to continually try new things when I have a routine that works.
The abuse of opioid medication by some is disproportionately affecting the proper usage by the majority of those who need and depend upon it. I am fortunate enough to have a doctor I have been with for many years who knows I do not abuse my prescription. But if I had to change my primary care physician for some reason, I would probably find it very difficult to maintain a proven routine.
If Gov. Brian Sandoval does not want to interfere with the doctor/patient relationship, he should do just that and the Legislature should follow his lead.
Rae Packer Darrow
Las Vegas
Show loyalty
It is clear that many of us are not happy with the choices we have for president. However, I think the Republicans running for office lower on the ticket need to get behind Donald Trump. Congress is divided enough without the possibility of a GOP president who has no backing from the Republicans.
Let’s encourage Joe Heck, Cresent Hardy, Danny Tarkanian, Mark Amodei, Dean Heller and Brian Sandoval to rally around the Republican candidate.
Sonya Healy
Las Vegas
On the roads
I have just read your Wednesday editorial, “The orange cone brigade.” You suggested the PPI (Producer Price Index) is much higher than the CPI (Consumer Price Index). You indicate County Commissioner Larry Brown is correct with his assertion that the proposed cap on annual gas tax increase would give residents, “a higher level of confidence that we … will raise only enough money that we need.” That statement is disingenuous.
You also suggest voters might be confused over the two measurements. I am not confused. The PPI, at 2.08 percent and more volatile than the CPI, is not that dissimilar to the CPI, at 1.85 percent. Both numbers are averages over the past 10 years. Nether figure is close to the commission’s proposed 4-cent yearly cap.
Both the CPI and the PPI are artificial constructs and present questionable results. After a number is reported, several adjustments can be made in oncoming months. The changes can vary by as much as 100 percent from the original figure. Oh, by the way, the county is not a producer, it is our representative.
I am a disabled Vietnam veteran who lives on a fixed income. Any increases to my income are dependent on the CPI. I have had no increases for the past two years. Now the county wants to start increasing my gasoline costs. Wages haven’t measurably increased since 2000. Yet the county wants to raise taxes.
I am going to vote no on Question 5 and recommend everyone do the same. We need to live within our means — and so should the county.
William Wood
Las Vegas
Root canal
It seems that Donald Trump is not the only blowhard I get to read about in your newspaper. Now, I get to read about your new columnist, Wayne Allyn Root, as he writes about how successful he has become and how courageous he acts. Well, at least he didn’t write that he was really, really rich.
Robert Bencivenga
Henderson
