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Abstract
SUMMARY Chronic pain represents a staggering public health burden. Despite research and technologic advances in pain management, chronic pain is grossly undertreated in the USA. Many pain patients are dissatisfied with their treatment regimens, and disparities exist in pain treatment for minorities and for socioeconomically disadvantaged and elderly patients. Many doctors feel inadequately trained to treat chronic pain. Therapeutic opioid use for chronic pain is a particularly challenging issue for both physicians and patients. Strategies for addressing chronic pain from a public health perspective include increased education of physicians and the public, improved integration of pain management across disciplines, and improved systems for monitoring prescription opioids.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.