Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Opioid crisis still looming over us

Our health care system must be able to anticipate and prepare for health emergencies, so it can respond in times of need. That’s true of COVID-19, but it also applies to any other public health crisis. As Nevada’s reopening continues, more patients will get medical procedures they’ve put off. As a result, more will leave the hospital with opioid prescriptions and potentially become addicted.

I’ve seen the effect of opioid dependence. We must use every resource to reduce opioid prescriptions. Non-opioid pain relief treatments offer a safe, effective, nonaddictive alternative. However, due to an outdated policy, patients on Medicare are unable to benefit from these therapies after surgery.

By passing the bipartisan Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation Act, and allowing patients greater access to non-opioid therapies, Congress can help minimize the numbers of opioids that will be prescribed once the COVID-19 crisis has passed us. I ask Nevada’s members of Congress to support this legislation so we can ensure that the opioid epidemic doesn’t become worse while we are focused on COVID-19.