If you watched any amount of TV the past few years you may have noticed a significant increase in commercials hyping prescription medication. At the same time prescription drug abuse and addiction is on the rise. We live in a quick fix society so when something goes wrong we look for the fastest way to remedy the situation.

The Problem: Better Living Through Chemistry

When someone has a headache they “pop a pill” and hopefully the headache goes away. When their back starts hurting, finding a medication to deal with the pain is their primary concern. The medical system in the United States is designed around crisis, or symptom management. Rarely do people look for the reasons behind that headache or back pain. Using a symptom management “Band-Aid” approach by taking a pill seems quicker, cheaper, and easier—but is it really?What if the pain is long lasting or a chronic condition? In that instance using certain types of pain medication over long periods of time can cause serious problems.

One of the major over-the-counter pain medications used by millions of Americans today is Tylenol (acetaminophen). We now know that a major problem with this medication is liver damage. All medications have side effects, so determining a cost-benefit analysis is crucial. According to research published in Pain Physician Journal (2006), 90 percent of people in the US receiving treatment for pain management are prescribed opiate medication. Of that number 9 percent to 41 percent had opiate abuse/addiction problems. In addition, prescriptions for medications like Vicodin and Percocet (both contain acetaminophen) have increased drastically in the past decade leading to significant medical problems for many people including addiction.

The Solution: A Three Tiered Approach

The search for magical interventions and quick fixes for the treatment for chronic pain can be never-ending. The better option is address all the issues confronting someone living with chronic pain; this approach includes a combination of proven psychological treatment approaches in addition to effective and appropriate medication management as well as non-medication interventions.

Over the past several years organizations like the International Association for the Study of Pain, the American Academy of Pain Management, and the American Academy of Pain Medicine have all promoted better and safer ways to treat someone undergoing chronic pain management. In fact they have been advocating for many different pain initiatives designed to promote more effective and humane chronic pain management.

To read more about using a team approach in chronic pain management and my Addiction-Free Pain Management® System please check out my article The Need for Multidisciplinary 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.