About the Coalition

Pain is a leading public health problem in the United States. The majority of adults in this country (approximately 57 percent) have experienced chronic or recurrent pain. Yet, members of the Coalition recognize that a significant barrier to effective pain management is that both clinicians and patients are often reluctant to talk about pain. Why? There are several factors.

Many people who live with pain, for example, say that their pain is not believed nor taken seriously by their healthcare professionals and that they are concerned about being misunderstood by their friends and loved ones. Many pain patients are also fearful about becoming addicted to certain pain medications.

Healthcare professionals tell us they have serious concerns when treating pain, such as: whether they will be able to help manage the patients' pain appropriately; fears about contributing to substance abuse and addiction in our society; and concerns about regulatory scrutiny. All of these concerns can affect the care and management of their patients who are in pain.

Side effects related to treatment can also have a negative impact on the management of pain. Many people affected by acute and chronic pain are concerned about the adverse effects of some pain medications—particularly the side effects from opioids, which include nausea, vomiting, constipation, somnolence, and dizziness. Healthcare professionals may also be concerned about patients' perceptions of side effects and know that their patients will sometimes abandon treatments that have the potential to improve the quality of their patients' lives.

Such concerns, held by patients and healthcare professionals, contribute to the complexity of pain management and can lead to the under-treatment of pain. It is critical for healthcare professionals to engage their pain patients in personalized conversations about their experience and the impact pain has on their lives. People with pain should learn how to advocate effectively for themselves and communicate their needs openly with their healthcare professionals and caregivers.

The American Pain Foundation, American Academy of Pain Management, the American Society for Pain Management Nursing, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., have created the Let's Talk Pain Coalition to help address the concerns that many people have about their pain care. Through a nationwide campaign, the Coalition will provide information to encourage individuals with pain and their healthcare professionals to improve how they communicate with each other about pain and its treatment. By providing helpful pain advocacy tools and up-to-date information, the Coalition will help foster improved communication between those affected by pain and their healthcare professionals, which will help result in improved treatment outcomes.