We’re nearing a grim milestone in the drug addiction crisis. Will the feds let us use non-addictive natural medicines for pain? Action Alert!
Drug overdoses could, for the first time, kill 100,000 Americans in a single year. The epidemic of drug and opioid addictions is reaching a fever pitch, but is largely overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. And, as in the COVID-19 pandemic, affordable, safe, and effective natural medicines could offer a lifeline, but the federal government stands in the way.
The numbers paint a bleak picture. Overdose death counts are worse than ever, with more than 86,000 for the 12-month period ending in July. A new study published in JAMA Psychiatry looked at 190 million emergency department visits, finding significantly higher rates of emergency visits for opioid overdoses from March to October of 2020 compared against the same dates in 2019. Overall emergency visits for opioid overdoses in 2020 were up almost 30 percent from 2019.
Additionally, the CDC reported that overdose deaths accelerated during the pandemic, rising 38.4 percent during the year leading up to June 2020.
Hemp-derived CBD could be part of the answer in curbing these tragic and unnecessary deaths. CBD is a safe, non-additive alternative to these drugs with evidence to support its effectiveness for pain. CBD has also shown promise as a treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections like MRSA, which alone kills 90,000 Americans a year.
In earlier coverage we reported on the current status of CBD. In brief, the Farm Bill of 2018 legalized hemp at the federal level, but products containing CBD, such as supplements, are still subject to FDA rules and regulations. The FDA is still determining how it will treat products containing CBD, but the existence of a CBD drug, Epidolex, which costs $32,500 a year, makes it likely that the FDA will not allow CBD supplements to cut into the drug manufacturers profits.
There is some hope. HR 841 amends the law to provide an exemption for hemp-derived CBD from rules that apply to dietary supplements when there is an approved drug with that ingredient or if that ingredient is being investigated as a new drug.
It is critical that we support this bill. The number of opioid deaths in this country is completely unacceptable, as is the FDA’s inaction.
Action Alert! Write to Congress, telling them to support consumer access to affordable CBD. Please send your message immediately.
If they want to stop overdose deaths, stop forcing people in terrible pain to get illegal drugs they don’t know potency of and make opioids affordable and available. The situation is so bad that comedian Wanda Sykes was told only to take ibuprofen after a double mastectomy.
CBD is not adequate.
The high opioid overdoses have always been about illegal/illicit opioids. STOP SPREADING HARMFUL LIES. Now with Mexican border freely open, drug cartels are bringing in more deadly addictive substances that are abused by those looking to get high. CIA//DEA/etc actually DEAL these drugs, which is why they have to put the focus wrongfully on Rx pain meds. This has nothing to do with people with severe intractable pain with no known cure. And CBD doesn’t do crap for this torturous pain.To deal with the actual problem, instead of pushing partial opioids on addicts for life, they need to actually learn how to treat addiction instead of creating a monopoly for Suboxone (a partial opioid) while testifying that Rx opioids are “heroin pills”. They are handing out other “heroin pills to those who abuse drugs to escape. You don’t need to vilify other pain treatments in order to push CBD.
It is critical that we support this bill. The number of opioid deaths in this country is completely unacceptable, as is the FDA’s inaction
How does one resign for monthly donations once the old year expires.
Please send an email to [email protected] and we will be happy to help!
100,000 Deaths a year is a HUGE Problem!
ALL Viable Healthful Remedies MUST Be Permitted!
Support consumer access to affordable CBD.
I support HR 841. Consumers need access to affordable CBD.
I support HR 841. Consumers need access to affordable CBD. CBD is much better than opiods.
Nature doesn’t make CBD nature makes full spectrum. I don’t believe in isolating anything. I agree cbd doesn’t do much for serious pain.
Natural pain relievers would be such a great transition for addicts; could be usedfor physical or psychological pain.
I also think hence, perfectly pent post! .
I’ve heard from my patients that have been on opioids that medical marijuana really helps them get off opioids. I can also agree that CBD helps with minor pain but not severe pain unless blended with THC. Mary Gruss NP