AAFP Chronic Pain Management Toolkit

Chronic pain is common in the United States, with approximately 11% of the population reporting daily pain. The use of pain medications has increased dramatically, with the sales of prescription opioids quadrupling from 1999 to 2014. Opioid misuse and abuse rates have also increased, leading to a rise in both opioid overdoses—at least half of which are attributed to prescription medications—and morbidity and mortality. Numerous groups—including the AAFP, other medical societies, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) (formerly the Institute of Medicine), and the U.S. Congress—are emphasizing the need to improve chronic pain care.