U.S. Pain Foundation’s Cindy Steinberg Appointed to MA Opioid Working Group

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - Feb. 23, 2015 - PRLog -- The U.S. Pain Foundation is proud to announce that Cindy Steinberg, National Director of Policy & Advocacy has been chosen by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to serve as a member of the newly established Opioid Working Group.

The group is charged with finding a statewide strategy to combat the opioid abuse crisis in the Commonwealth.

The 16 member working group will be chaired by HHS Secretary Marylou Sudders and Attorney General Maura Healey and includes the Commissioner of  of Public Health, Deputy Commissioner of Education, the Mayor of Brockton, law enforcement officials and substance abuse and addiction medical professionals.

“I am honored to have been chosen by Governor Baker to represent the pain community in this important work,” said Steinberg.  “From his words and actions, it is clear that the Governor understands the need to maintain a balance between efforts to reduce the diversion and abuse of opioids and those that assure their availability for appropriate medical use particularly for those living with debilitating chronic pain or suffering at the end of life.”

The working group will be holding a series of public events across the state in the coming months, in an effort to hear the voices of all stakeholders.  They will also consult with a variety of experts to come up with a comprehensive strategy to present to the Governor in May.

“Cindy is a champion for the pain community, and it’s wonderful to see that acknowledged by Governor Baker and his team, “said Paul Gileno, President and Founder of the U.S.  Pain Foundation.  “It is critical that the voice of those living with chronic pain be a part of the discussion and proposed solutions about how to curb the abuse of prescription medications.”

About the U.S. Pain Foundation:

The U.S. Pain Foundation is a national non-profit organization created by people with pain for people with pain that is based in Middletown, Connecticut.  The mission is to inspire, empower, educate and advocate for the needs of those living with pain and their caregivers. To learn more about the organization, view the website at: http://www.uspainfoundation.org/