ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- It's been almost three months since Florida's new prescription opioid law went into effect.
- Group called 'Don't Punish Pain' shares their stories
- Patients dealing with co-pays, pharmacies running out of pills
- Link: Don't Punish Pain rally
It limits how many pills a doctor can prescribe to patients with acute pain. While the law was created to help the opioid addiction crisis, some patients feel it's making it harder for them to get the medicine they need.
"There's folks suffering right now who have legitimate needs for pain medication and they can't get them," said Kenneth Letson, a veteran who was injured during his time serving the country.
"These are medications that you need just to even move around the house," said Krystle Doherty, a chronic pain patient.
The issues these patients say they're experiencing range from high co-pays to pharmacies running out of opioid pills.
"We're not getting high. We're not seeking a high. We're just trying to live, to function," said Lisa Doherty, a chronic pain patient.
The group, called "Don't Punish Pain," gathered for a rally on Tuesday, then got together again Saturday to continue sharing their stories.
They hope to see changes in the future so they're able to get the medicine they rely on every day.
"We are individuals and our medical history needs to be treated as an individual," said Doherty.