The DEA and FDA with input from the CDC have just stepped solidly between the doctor and patients with chronic pain. As of October 6th, "standard" pain medications will be elevated to higher schedules making it very difficult for doctors to continue prescribing pain medication. Maintenance dosages will be red flags to these agencies and may subject a doctor to investigation or loss of the "right" to prescribe scheduled drugs. Tramadol here in Texas was an unscheduled drug. A couple of months ago the state elevated Tramadol to a schedule 4 medication. No biggie, but it makes doctors nervous. As of Oct 6th, Tramadol will become a schedule 3 drug. This will make it increasingly difficult to obtain maintenance doses of this beneficial drug. Worse, hydrocodone (Vicodin), a common pain medication, will be elevated to a schedule 2 (the highest class for prescription drugs). This means that a doctor may no longer fax or phone in prescriptions. He or she must write a prescription and may only prescribe for one month ... no automatic refills.

All of this was the result of what I understand to be a study by the CDC. The gist of this study was that there is rampant drug abuse of these prescription drugs. Worse, they decided that as people's prescriptions ran out these patients would turn to hard drugs such as heroin. This is the most preposterous line of BS I have every heard. I suffer from chronic joint pain. I take moderate to light doses of Tramadol and sometimes, on bad days, I might take a 5 mg hydrocodone. If I am careless and my prescription runs out I resort to over the counter medications (Naproxen) to see me through until I can get with my doctor. I DO NOT run out looking for the nearest heroin dealer!

It is obvious to me that the Obama administration is more concerned with these hypothetical drug addicts than they are the thousands of older citizens who suffer from chronic pain and need these medications to lead a somewhat normal life. Thank you Mr. Obama. Your compassion for the old geezers like me is underwhelming to say the least. What else is new?