The chronic pain management problem is growing. People are suffering in greater numbers. Many people undergoing chronic pain management are not receiving adequate treatment. Many are becoming hopeless and helpless while others are experiencing medication abuse and even addiction due to mismanaged chronic pain. This must change.

Since 1996 I have been researching and developing the Addiction-Free Pain Management® System to help address this growing problem. I have joined several pain management organizations in order to have better access to quality research. Today I wanted to revisit how serious this problem with chronic pain is becoming and review some possible ideas for improvement.

It is crucial to improve the problems associated with uncontrolled chronic pain. This is a societal necessity, a medical challenge and an economic requirement. If the need for chronic pain management is not recognized as a serious problem and treated effectively it takes an enormous personal toll on millions of people and their families. It also puts a major drain on our already stretched healthcare dollars. Undertreated chronic pain can also compromise the productivity of our workforce.

Even though the overutilization of the healthcare system by this population is a major drain on society and is one of the most serious public health concerns, it has been curiously missing from the current national debate on health reform. We must take the necessary steps to re-define chronic pain management as a much needed component of our healthcare system and must immediately address this public health crisis.

To learn more about my thoughts on the need and right for effective chronic pain management please check out my article The Right to Quality Chronic Pain Management that you can download for free on our Article page.

If you would like to see my upcoming trainings and especially to learn about my 20 hour (three days) Addiction-Free Pain Management® Certification Training on December 7-9, 2009 in Sacramento California designed to teach treatment strategies for people living with chronic pain and coexisting disorders including disorders including addiction please Click Here and scroll down to the December 7-9, 2009 for the description and how to sign up.

You can learn more about the Addiction-Free Pain Management® System at our website www.addiction-free.com. If you are working with people undergoing chronic pain management and want to learn how to develop a plan for managing their chronic pain and coexisting psychological disorders; including depression, addiction and other coexisting psychological disorders effectively; please consider my book Managing Pain and Coexisting Disorders: Using the Addiction-Free Pain Management® System. To purchase this book please Click Here.

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