My USA Today column was published this morning: Pain management: Education is key.
I discuss the pain management conundrum in our country, explaining the no-win situations both chronic pain patients and doctors find themselves in: “Doctors face a conundrum. On the one hand, chronic pain drugs can lead to abuse, which could draw the attention of law enforcement. On the other, chronic pain patients are often inadequately treated. It’s not because doctors don’t care. Robert Rolfs, state epidemiologist at the Utah Department of Health, calls prescription drug abuse ‘an unintended consequence of an intent to treat pain better.’”
Enjoy the piece.
