Abstract
Prescription Drug Diversion and Pain provides an interdisciplinary overview of medications used to treat chronic pain, and the benefits and risks that are posed by long-term use of opioids. Use of these life-saving medications must be carefully managed to prevent serious side effects, which may include physical dependence, addiction, and even death. In recent years, the risk of these side effects has led to increased attention on the development of alternative treatments for chronic pain. This book not only offers a single, comprehensive source for understanding the specialized nature of the opioid crisis, but also addresses provocative topics including how pain drugs came to be regulated by the US government and the rarely discussed aggressive marketing behind the spread of these drugs. Chapters are written by expert contributors from diverse backgrounds in medicine, psychiatry, pharmacy, nursing, law, and bioethics. Prescription Drug Diversion and Pain is a must-read for healthcare professionals, chronic pain patients and caregivers, policymakers and regulatory officials, drug treatment providers, and those in the pharmaceutical industry seeking to address the current opioid crisis.