Overview of Chronic Pain and Addiction

Presented by Vera Farkas Reinstein, PharmD, BCPS

This module is designed to enhance a pharmacist’s understanding of chronic pain and addiction to help better care for this complex patient population. Dr. Reinstein clarifies the pathophysiology of acute and chronic pain, the various factors than can influence chronic pain, and explains how addiction is a biological brain disease that is chronic and relapsing, yet preventable and treatable.

This video is a project of the Governor’s Institute supported by the through funding from the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substances Abuse Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Strategic Prevention Framework for Prescription Drugs (CFDA #93.243), North Carolina Division of Public Health Injury and Violence Prevention Branch and the Centers for Disease Control. Collaboration and content development provided by the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists.

[markalexander]

Thank you for making the important clarification that dependence does not equal addiction. I have severe chronic pain and have done for 11 years so while I am not addicted to opioids and do not abuse my medication I do have quite a high tolerance to them and also become very physically unwell without them.

[greg]

If you don’t have chronic pain you shouldn’t be making the rules regarding it and those that suffer with it daily