Alliance for Balanced Pain Management Expands Membership with Diverse National Organizations

BOONTON, N.J., May 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/-- The Alliance for Balanced Pain Management (AfBPM) today announced it has welcomed four new members: Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA); National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS); National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI) and National Black Nurses Association (NBNA).

The AfBPM is a diverse collective of health care advocacy groups, patient organizations, industry representatives and other stakeholders with a mission to support both the appropriate access to integrated pain management and the responsible use of prescription pain medicines with an aim to reduce abuse and enhance patient safety. Member organizations and resources for balanced pain management can be found at www.Alliancebpm.org.

"Our newest members bring to AfBPM broad knowledge and diverse experience in areas that can really make an impact toward our mission of balanced pain management," said James Appleby, RPh, MPH, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of The Gerontological Society of America and AfBPM Steering Committee member. "These new member groups represent important minority, medical care, pharmacy and law enforcement populations that have a vested interest in ensuring that people with pain have access to integrative treatment, as well as in keeping prescription pain medicines used, stored and disposed of properly."

Chronic pain affects an estimated 100 million Americans and an untold number of people are affected by acute pain.¹ Important attention is being given to the rise in abuse, misuse and diversion of prescription pain medications, yet many people still receive inadequate pain assessment and treatment.¹ According to a recent report issued by the National Institutes of Health, 40 percent to 70 percent of people with chronic pain are not receiving proper medical treatment.² Proper medical treatment can include physical therapy and rehabilitation, psychological counseling, social support, medication and other complementary approaches.

About the New AfBPM Members

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
"Many local CADCA coalitions are reducing prescription drug abuse, and they are doing it through a multi-sector, comprehensive approach," said Mary Elizabeth Elliott, Vice President, Communications, Membership and IT, CADCA. "Building coalitions allows us to gain understanding and move ideas forward faster than going it alone. CADCA is excited to connect with Alliance members to positively impact this public health challenge."  

CADCA is a global membership-based prevention organization representing over 5,000 coalitions and affiliates working to make communities safe, healthy and drug-free. CADCA's mission is to strengthen the capacity of community coalitions by providing technical assistance and training, public policy advocacy, communications strategies, campaigns and special programs. CADCA is the voice of the coalition movement.

National Association of Chain Drug Stores
"Chain pharmacies are on the front lines in helping patients access the medications they need, and helping to curb prescription drug abuse," said Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, President and CEO, National Association of Chain Drug Stores. "We are eager to work with and learn from our new affiliation with the Alliance."

NACDS represents traditional drug stores and supermarkets and mass merchants with pharmacies. Chains operate more than 40,000 pharmacies, and NACDS' chain member companies include regional chains, with a minimum of four stores, and national companies. Chains employ more than 3.8 million individuals, including 175,000 pharmacists. They fill over 2.7 billion prescriptions yearly, and help patients use medicines correctly and safely, while offering innovative services that improve patient health and healthcare affordability.

National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators
"The mission of NADDI to seek solutions to the problems of prescription drug diversion fits so well with the Alliance goal of reducing abuse and enhancing patient safety," said Charlie Cichon, Executive Director, National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators. "We are eager to contribute as part of this larger team of passionate and knowledgeable advocates."

NADDI is a non-profit membership organization that works to develop and implement solutions to the problem of prescription drug diversion. NADDI advocates for the responsible use of prescription drugs by people who need them, and at the same time, aggressively works with law enforcement and regulators to pursue those involved in related criminal activity. NADDI's primary focus is training and education for members, which include law enforcement personnel, regulatory agents, health professionals, health care fraud investigators, advocacy and treatment professionals and the pharmaceutical industry.

National Black Nurses Association
"Our most vulnerable patient populations, including minorities, are in need of support and representation that ensures access to appropriate pain management balanced with reducing pain medicine abuse, misuse or diversion," said Deidre Walton, JD, MSN, RN-PHN, President and CEO, National Black Nurses Association. "Our members are committed to joining the Alliance in efforts to reach this important health and societal goal."

NBNA was organized in 1971 under the leadership of Dr. Lauranne Sams, former Dean and Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama. NBNA is a non-profit organization incorporated on September 2, 1972 in the state of Ohio. NBNA represents 150,000 African American registered nurses, licensed vocational/practical nurses, nursing students and retired nurses from the United States, eastern Caribbean and Canada, with 94 chartered chapters, in 35 states.

About the Alliance for Balanced Pain Management

AfBPM is composed of 25 organizations, including a steering committee made up of the Alliance for Patient Access, the American Cancer Society, the American Chronic Pain Association, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids and the Gerontological Society of America. Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals is the founding sponsor. Public or private organizations that are focused on addressing and advancing balanced pain management, reinforcing the need for safe and responsible prescribing, use, storage and disposal of prescription pain medications, and minimizing misuse of prescription pain medication may join the Alliance for Balanced Pain Management. Find out more about AfBPM and membership: www.AllianceBPM.org.

Alliance for Balanced Pain Management Member Organizations 
Alliance for Patient Access 
American Academy of Pain Management 
American Cancer Society 
American Chronic Pain Association 
American Pain Society 
American Society for Pain Management Nursing 
Caregiver Action Network 
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America 
Easter Seals 
The Gerontological Society of America 
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 
Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals 
Men's Health Network 
National Alliance for Caregiving 
National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations 
National Association of Chain Drugstores 
National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators 
National Black Nurses Association 
National Minority Quality Forum 
National Patient Safety Foundation 
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. 
Partnership for Drug-Free Kids 
U.S. Pain Foundation 
Verde Environmental Technologies, Inc.
Veterans Health Council & Vietnam Veterans of America 

References
¹ Institute of Medicine. Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education, and Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2011.
² National Institutes of Health. Pathways to Prevention Workshop: The Role of Opioids in the Treatment of Chronic Pain. Draft Executive Summary. September 29-30, 2014.

CONTACT:
Caren Begun
Green Room Public Relations
856-424-2023
[email protected]

SOURCE Alliance for Balanced Pain Management

Related Links

http://www.Alliancebpm.org