Pain & Policy Studies Group

Our vision is that people who suffer pain from cancer, AIDS, surgery, accidents, and chronic conditions will have relief from their pain and a better quality of life; and that caregivers will know when and how to use opioid analgesics without fear of regulatory agencies.

Our mission is to "balance" international, national and state policies to ensure adequate availability of pain medications for patient care while minimizing diversion and abuse, and to support a global communications program to improve access to information about pain relief, palliative care, and policy.

We are interested in the extent to which the regulation (or the perception of regulation) of drugs and professional practice affects pain management. Much of our work focuses on identifying and addressing the barriers to medical use of opioid analgesics (narcotic drugs), which are essential to chronic pain management and palliative care. 

Our work is accomplished through a University program which includes

Research

Methods to evaluate policy and barriers

Surveys of regulators, clinicians

Analysis of laws, regulations and other policy

Education

Programs for clinicians, regulators, and policy makers

Fellowships for regulators

Internships for University students

Communication

Publication of articles and monographs

Newsletter publication

Websites

The Group's work is multidisciplinary; we collaborate with colleagues at the University of Wisconsin and other academic institutions, agencies of federal and state governments, and associations of professionals, health care providers and patients. Financial support is provided to the University in the form of grants or unrestricted gifts from government agencies, educational and scientific foundations, and industry.