The cost of pain

Abstract

Prescription opioid use has historically been a regular component of the management of chronic nonmalignant pain in Canada. However, the economic implications of high rates of addiction and abuse have motivated consideration of more cost-effective management strategies for chronic pain. The economic burden imposed by prescription opioid use relates in part to lost workplace productivity, increased addiction treatment program costs, and increased overall healthcare expenditure for these patients. In this article, we present research on the economic implications of the current rates of opioid prescription, and report on the specific economic advantages realized in alternative therapeutic approaches to pain management.