Link to OPPOSE THE METHADONE ACCOUNTABILITY PACKAGE IN PENNSYLVANIA

Here is a link for a petition that urges the Pennsylvania General Assembly to oppose the Methadone Accountability Package. If you wish to sign the petition, click the link and follow the instructions on the site.
Even if you don't live in PA, you can still sign the petition.

http://health.change.org/petitions/view/urge_the_pa_general_assembly_to_oppose_the_methadone_accountability_package

Urge the PA General Assembly to Oppose the Methadone Accountability Package

Targeting: The PA State Senate, Sen. Joe Scarnati PA-025 (State Senator PA 25th District), State Sen. Shirley Kitchen (PA-003), see more...The PA State Senate, Sen. Joe Scarnati PA-025 (State Senator PA 25th District), State Sen. Shirley Kitchen (PA-003), State Sen. LeAnna Washington (PA-004), State Sen. Michael Stack (PA-005), State Sen. Vincent Hughes (PA-007), State Sen. Michael O'Pake (PA-011), State Sen. Stewart Greenleaf (PA-012), State Sen. Raphael Musto (PA-014), State Sen. Daylin Leach (PA-017), State Sen. Lisa Boscola (PA-018), State Sen. Lisa Baker (PA-020), State Sen. Mary White (PA-021), State Sen. Gene Yaw (PA-023), State Sen. Bob Mensch (PA-024), State Sen. Edwin Erickson (PA-026), State Sen. Michael Waugh (PA-028), State Sen. John Eichelberger (PA-030), State Sen. Patricia Vance (PA-031), State Sen. Richard Kasunic (PA-032), State Sen. Richard Alloway (PA-033), State Sen. John Wozniak (PA-035), State Sen. Kim Ward (PA-039), State Sen. Jane Orie (PA-040), State Sen. Donald White (PA-041), State Sen. Wayne Fontana (PA-042), State Sen. Jay Costa (PA-043), State Sen. John Rafferty (PA-044), State Sen. Elder Vogel (PA-047), and State Sen. Jane Earll (PA-049)

Started by: PA Freedom Coalition

A package of legislation was recently introduced in the state senate, called the Methadone Accountability Package. These bills and a resolution include S.B. 1293, S.B. 1294 - the Methadone Addiction Prevention and Treatment Act, S.B. 1376, S.B. 1377, S.B. 1378, S.B. 1382, S.B. 1383, and S.R. 348. This package of legislation would interfere with the rights of doctors and patients to determine how long treatment is needed. Enacting this law would drive many methadone patients to return to using illegal opioids, like heroin. Please support Pennsylvanians right to medical freedom by signing a petition urging senators in the PA General Assembly to oppose this package of legislation

PETITION TEXT

THE METHADONE ACCOUNTABILITY PACKAGE,

Greetings,

I am writing to you today asking for you to please oppose the Methadone Accountability Package, which includes S.B. 1293, S.B. 1294 the Methadone Addiction Prevention and Treatment Act, S.B. 1376, S.B. 1377, S.B. 1378, S.B. 1382, S.B. 1383, and S.R. 348. This package of legislation would allow the state government to interfere in the length of addiction treatments that use methadone. It would interfere with the rights of doctors and patients to determine how long treatment is needed. It is not the place of the legislature to dictate how long a doctor may treat their patients. Methadone maintenance has proven efficacy in the treatment of opioid addiction and it is up to the doctor and patient to decide how long the treatment should last. Placing artificial limits on the length of addiction treatments using methadone is unproven and would result in many of the patients returning to the black market to illegally procure opioid drugs. This would cause an increase in crime and addiction. Please do not support this intrusive, unscientific, health care package of legislation.

Petition Text:
Whereas: Recently introduced legislation called the Methadone Accountability Package, S.B. 1293, S.B. 1294, S.B. 1376, S.B. 1377, S.B. 1378, S.B. 1382, S.B. 1383, and S.R. 348, would allow the state government to interfere in the length of addiction treatments that use methadone.

Whereas: The Methadone Accountability Package would interfere with the rights of doctors and patients to determine how long treatment is needed and how treatment should be given.

Whereas: We the undersigned believe allowing the state legislature to dictate how long a doctor may treat their patients is not the proper role of government.

Whereas: Methadone maintenance has proven efficacy in the treatment of opioid addiction and, we the undersigned believe, should be left to the doctor and patient to decide how long the treatment should last.

Whereas: Placing artificial limits on the length of addiction treatments using methadone is unproven and not backed by medical evidence.

Whereas: The Methadone Accountability Package, by limiting the length of methadone therapy for use in addiction treatment, would cause an increase in crime and addiction. Many patients who would be prematurely forced off of methadone treatment may resort to illegally procuring opioid drugs on the black market. The relapsing addicts may also resort to crime to fund the large expense of maintaining an illicit opioid addiction.

Therefore, we ask that you please do not support any of the legislation that is part of the Methadone Accountability Package, a truly intrusive, unscientific, package of health care legislation.