Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) capsules with kratom powder and green leaves OPINION – I am a 48-year-old Army veteran from Woodland, CA. By many accounts, I am a typical person – married with children, maintain close friendships, love my relatives, and have a daily routine. At the same time, my life is a story of both desperation and resilience in the face of chronic pain.
Image by Green AppleOPINION – Non-opioids could have a life changing impact on the approximately 5 million Americans living with opioid use disorder today, but they could also be an invaluable tool in our effort to effectively treat acute pain patients. This is an incredible opportunity, but we will only realize the full benefits of non-opioids if we make them easily accessible to the public – meaning it’s time for a legislative solution.
A hospital patient experiencing pain . (Photo: jeep5d, via Shutterstock)OPINION: Although science and innovation are the cornerstones of the California economy, patients living with chronic pain have been largely left behind when it comes to significant medical breakthroughs. Beyond opioids, which can be effective but are also addictive, the choices that patients have available to treat pain remain limited to non-clinical options that only provide so much relief.