Statement of the National Consumers League:

  NCL Backs New Alliance to Protect Pain Patients’ Rights and Fight Abuse of Prescription Drugs

          WASHINGTON, DC—The National Consumers League today announced its support for an unprecedented alliance of law enforcement and health care organizations advocating aggressive efforts to prevent prescription drug abuse while protecting the right of consumers to safe and effective therapies for pain management.

        “This collaboration between the Drug Enforcement Administration, Last Acts, and the medical community helps protect those most vulnerable consumers—patients who desperately need powerful prescription drugs to relieve their suffering,” said NCL President Linda Golodner. “Chronic pain sufferers as well as those afflicted with terminal illnesses will benefit from today’s breakthrough action.”
        NCL applauds Last Acts for sponsoring today’s event. “Once again, Last Acts serves those suffering from terminal illness by supporting their right to use pain medication appropriately to ease their final suffering,” Golodner said. “We are proud to work with Last Acts.”
        Concerned about the rights of pain patients, Golodner wrote DEA and the Food and Drug Administration in August urging them to make sure that any regulatory action aimed at combating abuse of the prescription painkiller OxyContin would not restrict hurt legitimate patient access.

        “A delicate balance must be struck between preventing abuse of a powerful opioid and ensuring that individuals suffering from debilitating pain have access to a drug that offers prolonged relief,” Golodner wrote.

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America's pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to identify, protect, represent, and advance the economic and social interests of consumers and workers. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.   

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