Pain and Chemical Dependency

Many people who are dependent on addictive chemical agents first encounter these agents as prescription drugs for a painful, usually chronic, medical condition. While the roles of psychologists and psychiatrists are key in treating these patients, the role of the physician who initially prescribed the drug and who manages the patient's medical condition has only recently been addressed, and it is now emerging as an important new area in medicine. In addition to the problem of dependency itself, once a patient becomes dependent, it significantly affects ongoing treatment of the medical problem. This new book, written by the top names in the field, addresses these important issues.