Multidisciplinary Treatment of Benign Chronic Pain Syndrome in Substance Abusing Patients

This article presents a model for combined treatment of benign chronic pain and substance abuse. The combined treatment program illustrated draws resources from a comprehensive pain treatment center and an addictions program, which affiliated to better serve these challenging patients. Three illustrative cases are presented. Potentially divisive conceptual issues, such as lack of understanding of the biopsychosocial model of benign chronic pain, and the debate over the role of long-term opioid medication in the treatment of addiction and chronic pain disorders, are discussed.