For quite some time, I have been pondering the unique difficulties facing law-abiding American citizens who suffer chronic and severe pain from medical conditions for whom treatment with opiate medications is a safe and logical option that is severely and overly restricted by our government.

 

Like any Americans, we have the right to assemble and seek redress of our grievances, insufficient pain treatment limits the ability to participate by those most severely affected by lack of access to medications. This difficulty became particularly clear to me last year,  when I travelled to my state capitol to participate in a nationwide series of events under the name “Don’t Punish Pain.” During the gathering, mention was made of numerous individuals unable to attend the vent due to insufficiently treated pain.

 

Americans suffering un- and under-treated pain clearly need a way to call attention to this  difficult situation - including especially those whose pain leaves them homebound. One logical idea is a virtual protest on the internet, perhaps pain patients could have a channel to post videos about the issue.

 

But it seems that a combination of using the internet and activities in the real world would be able to generate more buzz. An internet pain patients channel posting videos, photos, interviews, stories and links to real world activism would generate a lot more opportunities to spread our message and call public attention to our concerns.

 

 

Finally, I hit upon the idea of releasing balloons.  This would be a gentle activity. It would have visual appeal that could be shared via the internet, and could be done at a variety of locations - near government offices and medical facilities, or even from home.

 

                          What Shall we Do?

 

 

People who are mobile could gather in public places - especially places visible to people who work in the government and are responsible for legislation, regulations and enforcement that have created such unnecessary difficulties for Americans who suffer. severe and chronic pain.  Good locations might be places visible to employees of agencies such as the DEA, CDC, FDA, state capitols, and medical facilities.

 

Balloons - and flyers explaining the situation of American pain patients - could be distributed to passersby.

 

People unable to travel to participate in public activities could release balloons from home.

 

Send balloon bouquets - with messages calling attention to the plight of pain patients -  to individuals in government and media.

 

 

Use of blue balloons is encouraged, but any color will do - especially for large batches.

 

Feel free to be creative - draw onto each balloon a frowny like the ones on pain charts, or write a note on a balloon with a marker.

 

 

At public Blue Balloon Campaign gatherings, make sure to bring signs that give the public  quick-to-read explanations of the purpose of the event, flyers to distribute to passersby, and consider creating chants or songs to attract attention and solidify bonding with fellow participants.

 

As part of your preparation for a publicly visible event, come up with a few brief talking points about why you’ve come and what you hope to accomplish. That way, if anyone asks you about what’s going on, you will be unlikely to be tongue tied.

 

 

Invite the media - TV, daily or weekly newspapers, and even people who discuss local issues on internet or cable access shows.

 

Document your activities. Videos, photos and written descriptions can expand our reach when  shared on the internet. 

 

 

 

                      When do we do it?

 

 

 

The launch date was May 15, 2019, a midweek workday, to symbolize that pain medication makes it possible for many pain patients to participate in ordinary, productive life activities like working, keeping house, raising families, gardening, travel and so on.

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To keep with the symbolism, the Day of Action each month will be a Wednesday in the middle of the month. Following are the dates for the rest of 2019:

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June 19

July 17

August 14

September 18

October 16

November 13

December 11

 

 

My hope is that our visibility will lead to increased awareness, further spread of Blue Balloons, and hopefully, a change of hearts and policies in our Republic.

 

 

 

                     Please, Please, Please

 

Pass this along to any and every individual or group you think might be interested.

 

Feel free to copy and print the flyer with the 6 pain patient grievances to distribute to the public anywhere, any time you think appropriate.

 

Make the Blue Balloon Campaign a regular observance in your life.

 

Know that I appreciate every single action done in the service of passing our message along.

 

 

 

                            Key Elements

 

 

Our most important tools are visibility, facts and logic. 

 

The Blue Balloons are a symbol we can use to maximize our visibility.

 

Facts and links to sources of further information are available for free at this website.

 

If you find facts or sources you’d like to share, feel free to pass them along by posting a comment on the website or emailing BlueBalloonCampaign@outlook.com.

 

Question the policies and assumptions that the government puts out there: How does depriving patients of pain meds change the behavior of people who sell or use black market drugs - sympathetic magic? Why does our government place such rigid restrictions on law-abiding citizens with severe pain while our government provides free needles for people to inject illegally-purchased drugs?