Pain and Addiction

Opioids can be invaluable for treating pain, but prescription painkillers can lead to abuse and addiction. In fact, up to 7% of patients prescribed opioids to treat chronic pain may develop the disease of addiction. Christopher Kennedy Lawford, author of two, New York Times bestselling books on addiction, Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime, and nephew of President John F. Kennedy describes his prior struggles with opioid and alcohol addiction and the importance of recovery. An expert on the pain and addiction interface, Dr. Steve Passik then outlines the real problem of prescription painkiller abuse, who’s at risk, and how we can use opioids safely.