Pain Management VS Drug Addiction An Ethical Decision to Treat or Not BY Talisa Burris

Pain " Pain is a significant public health problem. Chronic pain alone affects approximately 100 million U.S. adults. Pain reduces quality of life, affects specific population groups disparately, Costs society at least $ billion annually." Source: Institute of Medicine, "Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education, and Research" (Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences, 2011), p

What is Pain Management? “P ain Management also known as Algatry: a branch of medicine employing an interdisciplinary approach for easing the suffering and improving the quality of life of those living with pain” (Pain Community Center Organization, 20014). quality of life pain Pain Management Video Clip

Current Issues with Pain Management DEA- Cracking down on doctors prescribing controlled pain medications Family doctors are now referring patients to Pain Management Clinics instead of treating pain themselves- Delay in care Pain Management Clinics have long intake waiting list No Prescription Pain Medication for the First 30 Days. Patients go through withdraw Patients in constant pain Patients self-medicate with Tobacco, Alcohol, and Illicit Street Drugs Patients fail mandatory urine test and get discharged from pain management clinics. Patients become regular illicit drug users (Medline Plus, 2014)

Drug Addiction Verses Drug Dependence Drug Addiction Strong urge to use substance Inability to stop using substance Inability to perform normal daily functions without substance use Performing illegal activities to use and access substance Compulsive use of a substance, despite its negative or dangerous effects (Mayo Clinic, 2014) Drug Dependence Need of a drug to function normally (University of Maryland Medical Center, 2004)

“Unmitigated pain and suffering are often thought to rob people of their dignity”

Legal Standards Nurses are held accountable by their state Nurse Practice Act to effectively manage their patient’s pain through assessments, interventions, and advocacy.

Ethical Principals Beneficence Medical Care Professionals have the duty to provide care that benefits the patient Proper Assessment of Pain Appropriate Administration and Treatment of Pain Relief Proper Evaluation of Pain Relief and Comfort

Ethical Principals Autonomy Patients has the right to Autonomy The right to voice their preference of treatment of pain Pharmalogical Meditation Natural Remedies Prayer Physical Therapies CBT

Ethical Principal Advocacy Nurses have the Moral and Ethical duty to advocate for their patients comfort and pain relief

Fallacies of Reasoning: Pain Management “I have severe pain in my hip, but if I take this pain medication, I will become addicted”. “I’m not prescribing anything else for pain, their not in pain, it’s their addiction. The DEA won’t take my professional license”.

Nursing Roles Nurses have a role in competency and must be knowledgeable Knowledgeable of personal pain experience Knowledgeable of the different types of pain Knowledgeable of the different treatments of pain Knowledgeable of the different side effects of pain management Knowledgeable of the administration of pain management treatments Knowledgeable of the different type of pain assessment tools Nurses have a role as an Advocator and must advocate for their patients

Reference Mayo Clinic. (2014). Drug Addiction. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic Web site. Medline Plus. (2014, December 3). Substance Use Disorder. Retrieved from Medline Plus Web site: Pain Community Center Organization. (20014, December 7). Pain Management. Retrieved from Pain Community Center Web site: University of Maryland Medical Center. (2004). Drug dependence. Retrieved from University of Maryland Medical Center Web site: Wikipedia Organization. (2014, October 14). Pain Management. Retrieved from Wikipedia Web site: