The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made a public announcement on April 24, 2019, clarifying their 2016 Guidelines concerning Opioid Prescribing for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain. In their statement, they advised against mandatory tapering of opioid medications for long-term users and warned against reducing dosages to levels that could harm patients.

The CDC's alignment with the FDA on the matter of forced tapering for long-term opioid users was expected. However, the manner in which this announcement was made caught many off guard. The FDA is the leading authority on prescribed medications in the United States, and all other agencies are required to follow its regulations. Surprisingly, the CDC's guidelines have been widely implemented without any formal endorsement from the FDA.

This raises significant concerns. It is alarming that a regulatory body, tasked with safeguarding public health, issued guidelines that have been broadly applied without the necessary official approvals. The implications of this situation are profound, especially considering that over 30 states have enacted harmful legislation based on these CDC guidelines.

Some stakeholders appear to have disregarded the proper hierarchy of government agencies in their eagerness to restrict opioid use, despite the evidence presented that chronic pain patients are not responsible for the so-called "opioid crisis." The authority of the FDA seems to have been overlooked in this rush to action.

Moreover, it seems that the general public has passively accepted this medical practice masquerading as legislation in more than half of the states, all based on CDC guidelines that lacked FDA approval. Advocates who pointed out the illegitimacy of this practice faced backlash, ridicule, and attempts to discredit them.

Currently, we find ourselves in a precarious situation where an agency that should not be issuing policy statements on drug use is retracting widely misapplied guidelines that were enforced nationwide without proper authorization. This necessitates a serious examination of the circumstances and motivations behind these actions.

Questions arise: Why were these serious issues ignored? Why did stakeholders feel empowered to practice medicine through legislation based on unvalidated guidelines instead of seeking guidance from the FDA, the actual regulatory authority?

The CDC's narrative now suggests that the misapplication of their guidelines is to blame for patient suffering and opioid-related deaths. This is a blatant attempt to deflect responsibility and engage in political posturing. If the CDC had confidence in their guidelines, why would they include a disclaimer in their communications?

It's also crucial to note the role of the DEA, which has aggressively targeted physicians through prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP). If the CDC now claims that physicians can prescribe the necessary amounts of opioids to manage pain, why is the DEA penalizing those same physicians for doing so?

The PDMP, which was intended to help doctors prevent substance abuse, is instead being used as a tool for law enforcement—often by individuals who lack a proper understanding of pharmacology. This has conditioned societal perceptions to view anyone using opioids negatively, enabling the CDC to push their narrative without challenge.

It is essential for the public to start questioning these agencies and their accountability. The unfolding of these events has not made sense, and there seems to be a concerted effort to sweep these issues under the rug, hoping that few will notice.

To illustrate the absurdity of the situation, consider a hypothetical scenario involving the FCC issuing broad recommendations regarding driver’s licenses based on an unrelated concern, such as texting while driving. Despite having no jurisdiction over driver’s licensing, the recommendations could lead to significant changes at licensing centers, with compliance enforced through funding threats. This scenario mirrors the current opioid crisis, where agencies with no authority over specific medical practices have influenced legislation.

We must recognize that the loss of critical thinking and the rush to judgment have led society to accept unfounded narratives. The prevailing belief that addiction can occur within five days of exposure to opioids is misleading. While it is true that predisposed individuals may develop an addiction, the vast majority of adults in the U.S. have used opioids without becoming addicted.

The historical context reveals that previous generations were not plagued by opioid dependency as we are led to believe today. Misconceptions about the past, particularly concerning women and substance use, reflect ongoing biases that shape current narratives.

It is time to unite and reject these misleading stories, demand action for patients and society, and prioritize informed consent in healthcare. Physicians must be allowed to practice medicine freely, without burdensome regulations based on unendorsed guidelines. The legislation currently in place, driven by those unqualified to dictate medical practice, must be challenged.

The forced compliance of society to participate in this poorly conceived framework raises significant ethical concerns. The PDMP system, rife with privacy issues, operates without proper patient consent, leaving many unaware of its existence or implications.

These glaring issues must not be overlooked. Thoughtful consideration and collective action are necessary as we move forward. Let us reclaim our power as informed citizens and demand transparency in healthcare.

The only truly free society is one that is informed.

Heather Wargo is a recognized writer in Government, Politics, and Health, advocating for patients with chronic pain and the physicians affected by governmental overreach. She is a member of The Society of Professional Journalists.

Thank you for taking the time to read this piece.

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