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Back pain is extremely common, is one of the leading causes of disability and reasons for healthcare visits, and accounts for a significant portion of opioid use.

Overview of Opioids and Back Pain

Opioid dependency remains a national crisis, with spine pain being the leading reason for opioid prescriptions.

The Opioids, Pain & Spine Health Task Force, led by expert spine surgeons and pain management specialists, works to bridge the education gap by promoting awareness, prevention, and alternative pain management strategies for both surgical and non-surgical spine patients.

Priorities

Education

Develop authoritative digital content, including videos, infographics, and patient toolkits, on chronic pain management, opioid alternatives, and safe pain management practices for spine patients.

Awareness

Expand reach through digital strategies, society partnerships, and traditional media to ensure patients and providers have access to pain management education.

Research

Advance studies on strategies that minimize opioid use while optimizing pain relief for spine patients, supporting evidence-based guidelines for providers.

Frontiers in Pain Management: Opioids & Their Alternatives

Learn about pain management and how to prepare for spine surgery by reading our free Spine Health Journal.

bone health edition of the spine health journal

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20%
of Adults

With chronic pain in the U.S. use opioids

38%
of Patients

Are still using opioids one year after elective spine surgery.

3-19%
of People

Who take prescription opioid pain medications develop an addiction to them.