Once again, I’ve watched another sunrise because my chronic pain has kept me awake for most of the night. I’m 68 years old, have had surgery 20 times because of orthopedic degeneration in my legs and lower back, and now I get less medication because of the criminal element that overdoses on illegally obtained opiates.

I listen to my doctor, whom I consider to be an intelligent and compassionate individual, struggle to explain to me why people like myself are having to pay the price because our laws and politicians can’t seem to control a situation that is appearing to somehow be our fault.

The situation has gone beyond just having to live with uncontrolled pain. It is the quintessential example of a political knee-jerk reaction that, on the outside, looks to be our government rising to quell an epidemic but, in reality, is causing increased suffering and loss of hope from those people who are continuously being asked to go without, stretch our money further, give up more rights, etc.

Recently, I read an article about a big drug bust in the Lewiston-Auburn area. It listed the seized drugs: crack, heroin and cocaine. Funny, but I didn’t see anything about the commonly prescribed medications for those of us with a lengthy and well-documented history of chronic pain because of degenerative diseases.

I guess a successful escape was made by those “abusers” using scooters and walkers, as I didn’t see anyone listed that was over the age of 40.

Richard Proctor, Greene