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I sat my wife down and told her life wasn’t worth it. My pain exceeded my ability to handle it. … We even discussed what gun I would use.

Jon Fowlkes, who considered suicide after his doctor -- under pressure to limit opioid prescriptions -- abruptly cut off his medication for back pain from a motorcycle crash decades ago that left him nearly paralyzed. He eventually found another doctor willing to prescribe him painkillers.

Jon Fowlkes, who considered suicide after his doctor -- under pressure to limit opioid prescriptions -- abruptly cut off his medication for back pain from a motorcycle crash decades ago that left him nearly paralyzed. He eventually found another doctor willing to prescribe him painkillers.

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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