Guest Speaker Says Pain Medicine Often Underprescribed

As Dr. Lynn Webster sees it, there’s a big pain problem in this country that is only to get worse if something isn’t done soon. Webster, the medical director of Lifetree Clinical research and pain Clinic in Salt Lake City, visited St. Peter’s Hospital on Friday to give a presentation on the conundrum of under-treated pain sufferers and doctors’ reluctance to prescribe opioids.

“There’s an attitude that if you’re on opioids for a long time, you’re an addict,” Webster said. “That’s a myth; it’s not true.”

“Not all chronic use of opioids is abuse,” Webster said. “And those who do abuse opioids are thought to be addicts. And that’s not true.”

It’s important for doctors and patients to understand the difference between abuse and addiction, Webster said, because one out of two humans will experience severe and intractable pain and uncontrolled intractable pain is a leading cause of suicide.

“A huge number of baby-boomers will experience pain and need opioids,” Webster said. “Access should be personal for everyone.”

Webster hopes that by providing education to doctors and pain sufferers, the pain conundrum will be solved.

“Access (to opioids) has to be appropriate without judgment and without criticism but with compassion,” Webster said. – Independent Record; Helena, MT

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