Bureaucratic Roadblock Behind New Painkiller Rules At VA Clinics

New federal rules governing narcotic painkiller prescriptions have taken a toll on veterans relying on them to treat pain from missing limbs and other conditions. Over the past six months, many veterans have stated that they have had problems getting refills for their controlled painkillers. New opioid prescription rules from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are said to be behind the roadblock. DEA created the new rules to curb perceived abuses of opioids nationwide. Instead of helping, veterans claim the new rules have caused a dramatic uptick in depression due to increased pain, panic attacks, and other problems associated with sudden withdrawals that result when the refills are suddenly stopped. For more details, see this Military Advantage blog post.