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http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1238674-alternative-pain-management-focus-of-doctors-campaign

MetroCape BretonNova ScotiaCanadaWorldNews ColumnsThe Economist/The New York Times

Alternative pain management focus of doctors’ campaign
SHERRI BORDEN COLLEY STAFF REPORTER
Published September 24, 2014 - 6:37am

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia is launching an awareness campaign to encourage patients and physicians to explore alternative pain management options.

“The goal … is to broaden the conversation when the doctor and the patient sit down to talk about how to manage the pain,” Dr. Gus Grant, the college’s registrar and CEO, said in an interview Tuesday. “So, we want this conversation to be broad. Chronic pain is a complex, multi-factorial disease. It requires a rare, complex, thoughtful conversation and a conversation that’s frequently revisited.”

Outside of medication, Grant suggests the dialogue could include conversations about exercise, weight loss, meditation, physiotherapy therapy, massage therapy and proper diet.

“We know there are determinants of health, we know that there are factors that contribute to pain that can, at least in part, be addressed by things other than medication,” he said.

“Every situation is different. If we talk about medication, are doctors considering non-opioid medications, apart from or in addition to, what they’re using?”

While prescription drugs are one tool for managing pain, they may not be appropriate for every situation, the college says.

Secondly, the college recognizes that the diversion and abuse of prescription drugs are also complex problems that cause significant social harm.

“And, I think as a profession and a society we have to recognize that we can do better on both fronts,” Grant said.

“And to do better on both fronts, the starting block, the point of departure, has to be awareness, discussion at the moment of decision, at the very most basic level when doctor talks to patient and patient talks to doctor they’re doing it in an expansive, comprehensive, open-minded way.

“These are issues in the public eye, these are issues that touch on patient and general public safety.”

The college, Grant said, does not intend to demonize prescription pain medications. In many cases, he added, they are a critical part of pain management.

The campaign, through the use of ads, posters and billboards, together with a website, TheRightToolfortheJob.ca, launches Monday and runs through until 2015.

The college also recently implemented a new policy aimed at addressing the growing prevalence of opiate overdose fatalities.