Brief Description
Chronic pain affects an estimated 100 million Americans, or one third of the U.S. population, and it is the primary reason Americans are on disability. Although many treatments are available for pain, the number of prescriptions for opioid pain relievers has increased dramatically in recent years. Similarly, there has been an increase in both treatment admissions for prescription opioid addiction as well as accidental overdoses. As a result, NIDA is working with the public health community to ensure effective and safe management of pain. This section looks at many of these initiatives.
Explaining Pain
The NIH Institute and Center Directors who co-chair the NIH Pain Consortium discuss the importance of collaboration in pain research, as well as research priorities for their individual science programs.
Pain Awareness Month: Dr. Nora Volkow on Pain Research and Opioids
Pain Awareness Month: Dr. Walter Koroshetz on Pain Research Initiatives
Pain Awareness Month: Dr. Martha Somerman on Pain Consortium and Chronic Pain Research
Pain Awareness Month: Dr. Josephine Briggs on Alternative Approaches to Pain Management
Pain Awareness Month: Dr. Patricia Grady on Pain Management Research and Patient Care