Breaking the Cycle: Expanding Safer Pain Management in Arkansas
A new opinion article from John Vinson, APA CEO, in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Arkansas remains one of the hardest-hit states in the opioid crisis, with some of the highest opioid prescription rates in the nation. Pharmacists—who serve as a crucial link between health care providers and patients—witness firsthand the devastating effects of opioid addiction and the barriers preventing access to non-opioid pain relief options. Despite their efforts to promote safe medication use, restrictive insurance policies continue to force patients—especially Medicare beneficiaries—into opioid-based treatments.
“We must do everything possible to expand access to safer pain management treatments that don’t put patients at risk,” says John Vinson, President and CEO of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association. In this piece, Vinson advocates for federal action, including support for the Alternatives to Prevent Addiction in the Nation (PAIN) Act, a bill designed to eliminate insurance barriers, ensure affordable non-opioid treatments, and provide safer pain management solutions for seniors.