Tag Archives: chronic pain

New statistics from the DEA show a six-fold (600%) increase in the use of opioids, primarily oxycontin and vicodin, over the last ten years. We discuss this trend which we have reported, and the relationship to pain management.

Are we overreacting to the issue of increased use/abuse of pain medication, and we are perhaps still under-treating pain?. We try to look at the bigger issues of what is pain, why does it persist, and even if abuse numbers are low, what are the implications for the addiction-sensitive population.

Pain is considered an unpleasant experience, and a protection mechanism again potential tissue damage. It is the most common reason for people to see a doctor, and is also significant in addiction, lately with OxyContin and Vicodin. Darvon, a classic pain drug was recently removed from the US market by the FDA order because of heart related side effects. We discuss the drug, its history and usage, the nociceptor pain receptors and the perception of pain, and its impact on society.