Sickle cell disease is a serious medical condition that can cause excruciating pain. This pain can feel like shards of glass running through your veins. This pain can be treated with opioid medication, but due to the current opioid crisis and those with SCD often times seen as drug-seekers, sickle cell patients do not have adequate access to pain medication. I am a UT School of Social Work graduate student doing my internship with the Marc Thomas Foundation Sickle Cell Association of Texas and I am requesting that we Texans support HB-2576. This bill makes it easier for sickle cell survivors to get access to life saving pain medication. The opioid epidemic has adversely affected an under-served population, but HB-2576 is a step in the right direction. The CDC, in April, released clarifying guidelines for prescribing opioids to those with SCD, however more needs to be done. Call your representatives to vote in support of HB-2576. Thank you.
Christina Alexander
