Our current situation of outrageously expensive prescription drugs is causing 22% of Granite Staters to ration their medications, which results in taking less than their prescribed doses. This rationing can sometimes lead to devastating medical crises.
People are having to choose between their medication and food or heat. As an AARP and health care volunteer who is frequently out in the community, I have heard stories from many Granite Staters about how the high price of prescription drugs is impacting their lives.
One person I spent time with told me they had a relative taking their blood pressure medications every other day instead of daily as prescribed because the price was just too high. The result was a significant stroke that led to that relative having to move to a nursing home. Another story involves an older adult needing to take out a second mortgage on her home to pay for her underinsured adult child’s cancer treatment.
And finally, I spoke to a man who was forced to miss two months of remission-extending drugs, due to cost, and is now dying from a full-blown reoccurrence of his disease.
These are real people here in New Hampshire. They are our friends, neighbors and family members. I urge our elected officials to support local and federal legislation that will fight against the unfounded costs that pharmaceutical companies are charging for our life-changing and life-saving prescription drugs.
This is your chance to make a difference.
BEV COTTON
Weare