Last week this blog published a letter from NJ physicians supporting the right for patients and their families to be fully informed of the potential addictive risks of certain opiate-based prescriptions... today we bring to you a letter from 13 NJ parents who understand firsthand how a child can become easily addicted to these medicines. 

Fight Addiction on Multiple Fronts

The Medical Society of New Jersey’s (MSNJ) insistence, in the February 4, 2015 letter to the Asbury Park Press, that Senate Bill 2366 will hinder their physician’s ability to provide proper, personalized care to their patients is simply not true.

In fact, as a parent of a child that became addicted through a medicine prescribed to treat a sports injury, I think the MSNJ is missing the point. This law will give their doctors the opportunity to prevent countless families from suffering the unthinkable consequences of addiction. What can be more personal than that?

This bill is not designed to prevent a physician’s ability to practice medicine in the best way possible. It is intended to require dialogue between patients, parents, and physicians. And, to help parents, like me, know the signs and symptoms to look for if their child becomes addicted to a medicine they were prescribed.

Doctors need to be part of the solution in addressing Monmouth and Ocean counties’ heroin epidemic and I ask all New Jersey doctors to support this life saving bill.

Sincerely,

Diane N. Conforti, LCSW

Kathryn W. Olsen

Thomas McFlurry

Orlando L. Carnet

Lisa Carnet

Diane Busby

Marissa L. Adie

George Johnson

Marybeth Pesce 

Abby Boxman (Parent + Daughter)

Laxdra Marenta

Josie Dafeleda

Lori Altamirano

Johanna Knaack