Painkillers kill more than pain

The surge in opiate drug overdoses has persuaded an alliance of health care agencies and insurers to revive the PainKillers Kill public awareness campaign.

With a major campaign against the abuse and addiction of painkillers underway in our community, a local documentary will air on local television Tuesday evening. Tragedy and Hope: Stories of Painkiller Addiction was produced by WNED. It airs at 7:30 p.m WNED-TV and other local television stations.

The Washington Post reports private companies have paid as much as $25,000 to have a seat at the FDA advisory panel meetings on federal regulations for prescription painkillers. Avi Israel of Buffalo, who lost his son as a result of an addiction to painkillers, learned about the FDA meetings in emails while corresponding with a doctor.

Abuse and addiction to prescription pain killers has become an epidemic in the U.S., but now a major campaign has been launched right here in Buffalo. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York is leading the effort along with more than 50-community groups and many local media outlets. WBFO'S Eileen Buckley says the campaign is titled "Painkillers Kill More than Pain".