CULPEPER STAR-EXPONENT

Local and state community leaders are speaking up in support of a federal measure aimed at preventing opioid addiction among senior citizens while encouraging pain management options.

The Alternatives to Prevent Addiction in the Nation (PAIN) Act encourages the use of opioid alternatives to reduce addiction among seniors, according to a release from bill co-sponsor Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th.

“Right now, seniors dealing with chronic pain or injury are being prescribed opioids at increasingly high rates — causing many to develop opioid use disorders. I’m proud to support a bipartisan bill to increase access to covered, non-opioid pain medications, encourage alternatives to prescription opioids, and save lives.” she said in a statement. “Congress must do more to prevent the over-prescription of opioids, help those struggling with addiction, and stop families from feeling the pain of losing a loved one to overdose.”

The bill would make non-opioids affordable for patients receiving Medicare Part D, affording the same or less out-of-pocket costs for cheaper generic opioids.

The legislation, in addition, dissuades private insurance companies from steering patients toward generic prescription opioids and removes administrative red tape that prevents seniors from accessing the most suitable non-opioid pain management drug for them, according to the release.

In 2021, more than one million seniors were diagnosed with an opioid use disorder in the U.S., and fatal drug overdoses among people 65 years and older have quadrupled over the last two decades, according to the release.

Several local community-focused recovery and treatment advocacy organizations are supporting the legislation, including Culpeper Overdose Awareness, founded by Dee Fleming seven years ago after her son and his best friend died from an opioid overdose.

“My son’s path towards drug use started after he was given opioids following injuries sustained playing football. His addiction didn’t have to happen. We must do better at providing non-addictive options for pain management,” she said. “The Alternatives to PAIN Act would go a long way towards helping other families avoid a tragedy like ours.”

Encompass Community Supports Executive Director Jim LaGraffe backed the bill saying it supports and advocates for the community’s older adults.

“As the provider of the community behavioral health safety net and as the local Area Agency on Aging, we know all too well that our community’s seniors are not immune to the opioid epidemic. Prevention is critical and providing options for older adults who rely on Medicare Part D plans is an important step in that direction,” he said.

Rappahannock Area Community Services Board Deputy Exeuctive Director Brandie Williams said more Americans died this past year from overdose than any previous year on record.

“It is time to remain vigilant across all levels of intervention and treatment in the fight against the opioid epidemic. The Alternatives to PAIN Act ensures this vigilance for some of our most vulnerable Virginians, our seniors,” said Williams.

The bill would provide much-needed, unrestricted access to a variety of non-opioid forms of pain management with a goal of reducing the rates of misuse, overdose, and addiction, she said.

Richmond-based McShin Foundation CEO Honesty Liller said the legislation would change the lives of seniors and their families.

“Being in recovery myself from an opioid use disorder, I value that there are alternative medicines for people other than opiates.”

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, last month announced he was co-sponsoring the bill.

“I’ve heard from communities across the Commonwealth about the challenges of overcoming substance use disorder,” said Kaine. “This commonsense, bipartisan legislation would help protect Virginians and Americans across the country from substance use disorder by making non-opioid pain relievers more affordable for older Americans.”

Under current law, older Americans on Medicare are pushed into the cheapest pain management option, which is frequently an opioid prescription, according to Kaine.