Twice as many American adults suffer from chronic pain daily as are affected by heart disease, cancer and diabetes combined. Common chronic pain complaints include headache, low back pain, cancer pain, arthritis pain and neurogenic pain. As more and more people suffer from pain, the incidence of abuse and addiction to opioids such as heroin, morphine, and prescription pain relievers becomes a serious problem that affects the health, social and economic welfare of society. The consequences of this abuse have been devastating and are on the rise.
For example, the number of unintentional overdose deaths from prescription pain relievers has soared in the United States, more than quadrupling in the last 15 years. While the causes of pain can be very complex and can certainly include causes such as trauma, disease or even aging, most often, the root cause of the pain is increased inflammation. As inflammation increases, so do sensations of pain. As inflammation decreases, pain abates. While powerful pharmaceuticals exist to decrease inflammation, they carry with them potential devastating effects such as uncontrollable bleeding. To alleviate pain, many people are turning to cannabis derived products.
