September Is Pain Awareness Month

Gov John E. Baldacci of Maine has joined other states in proclaiming September as Pain Awareness Month. The idea for dedicating September to pain education stems from the Partners for Understanding Pain?a consortium of national organizations that touch the lives of individuals with chronic, acute, and cancer pain. The group began its initiative in August 2002.

The partnership's goal, spearheaded by the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA), is to create a better understanding among health care professionals, individuals, and families who are struggling with pain management. Also, the group is targeting the business community, legislators, and the general public that pain is a serious public health issue. "The Partners for Understanding Pain want to raise awareness of both the medical and socioeconomic impacts of pain. Pain and its consequences are issues of unrecognized significance," said Penney Cowan, founder and executive director of the ACPA. "Access to care also is an issue. Skyrocketing health care costs leave some, especially seniors, minorities, and the urban and rural poor, unable to get the help they need to manage their pain."

For more information about pain, visit www.theacpa.org, or call 800-533-3231.