TY - JOUR AU - Breivik, Harald AU - Eisenberg, Elon AU - O’Brien, Tony PY - 2013 DA - 2013/12/24 TI - The individual and societal burden of chronic pain in Europe: the case for strategic prioritisation and action to improve knowledge and availability of appropriate care JO - BMC Public Health SP - 1229 VL - 13 IS - 1 AB - Chronic pain is common in Europe and elsewhere and its under treatment confers a substantial burden on individuals, employers, healthcare systems and society in general. Indeed, the personal and socioeconomic impact of chronic pain is as great as, or greater, than that of other established healthcare priorities. In light of review of recently published data confirming its clinical and socioeconomic impact, this paper argues that chronic pain should be ranked alongside other conditions of established priority in Europe. We outline strategies to help overcome barriers to effective pain care resulting in particular from deficiencies in education and access to interdisciplinary pain management services. We also address the confusion that exists between proper clinical and scientific uses of opioid medications and their potential for misuse and diversion, as reflected in international variations in the access to, and availability of, these agents. SN - 1471-2458 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-1229 DO - 10.1186/1471-2458-13-1229 ID - Breivik2013 ER -