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The under-treatment of pain is a serious problem in Canada, including pain in patients with chronic conditions, and effective pain management is an integral and important aspect of quality medical care. For many patients, opioid analgesics - when used as recommended by their physician - provide far greater relief from severe pain than can be attained with non-opioid analgesics.

Because opioids are one of several types of drug substances that have the potential to be misused, they are carefully regulated by both provincial and federal agencies. However, in spite of various controls, drug abusers obtain these and some other prescription medications by diverting them from legitimate channels in several ways - including fraud, theft and forged prescriptions. It has also been reported that some legitimate patients may sell some of their medications to abusers.

Prescription drug misuse is a serious public health problem. Purdue Pharma, a leading manufacturer of prescription pain medications, has several activities that are designed to help reduce the misuse of opioid analgesics and other prescription medicines.

This section on Pain Management Issues offers healthcare professionals and consumers information on proper pain management; patients' rights to effective pain management; Purdue Pharma's involvement and commitment in reducing the abuse of prescription medication. Also provided are useful links to national, provincial, and international pain guidelines, reports, surveys, publications, addiction research and substance treatment organizations.

For further information on Pain and Pain Management please visit our painCare.ca website.