Published on September 3, 2010 at 5:06 AM
In recognition of September's designation as National Pain Awareness Month, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) today announced that it is planning a month-long educational campaign to improve the quality of life for the approximately 75 million Americans suffering from acute and chronic pain.
As part of this outreach, ASIPP has developed a consumer section on its website (www.asipp.org) that includes information about the latest diagnostic procedures and technologies, as well as an online directory of Interventional Pain Physicians who are experts at both finding the cause of pain and then treating it before it becomes a chronic or worsening problem. In addition, ASIPP is supporting the Drug Enforcement Agency's "Prescription Drug Take-Back Day" on September 25th.
"With chronic pain affecting more adults in the United States than cancer, diabetes and heart disease combined, many Americans are not aware that the prescription medications used to treat them are also being abused at an increasingly alarming rate, and that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends," remarked Dr. David Kloth, national spokesman, board member and past president for ASIPP.
"Our membership of over 4,000 Interventional Pain Management doctors is hoping to use National Pain Awareness Month as a means of outreach and education for people who are suffering or know of someone who is," added Kloth. "Interventional Pain Management offers alternative techniques and treatments that help to reduce the reliance upon prescription drugs to relieve, reduce, or manage pain."
To find a qualified pain management physician in your area go to http://www.asippmembersite.org/Search/Search.php.
SOURCE American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians