The Changing Landscape of Pain Management and Opioid Legislation
The Expanding Opiod Epidemic Has Prompted Broader Focus on Education, Policies, Regulation and Compliance
Sophia Sheikh, MD, FACEP
—Florida Doctor Magazine: Summer 2018
Approximately 100 million U.S. adults are burdened by chronic pain, totaling more than diabetes, cancer and heart disease combined. Those estimates do not account for acute pain and children. Pain is the most common reason for seeking health care and, as a presenting complaint, accounts for up to 70% of emergency department (ED) visits. Yet is often undertreated—especially …