American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) Promotes Patient Education and Outreach Initiatives During National Pain Awareness Month

NEW YORK, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of September's designation as National Pain Awareness Month, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) today announced that it is planning a month-long educational campaign to improve the quality of life for the approximately 75 million Americans suffering from acute and chronic pain.

As part of this outreach, ASIPP has developed a consumer section on its website (www.asipp.org) that includes information about the latest diagnostic procedures and technologies, as well as an online directory of Interventional Pain Physicians who are experts at both finding the cause of pain and then treating it before it becomes a chronic or worsening problem. In addition, ASIPP is supporting the Drug Enforcement Agency's "Prescription Drug Take-Back Day" on September 25th.

"With chronic pain affecting more adults in the United States than cancer, diabetes and heart disease combined, many Americans are not aware that the prescription medications used to treat them are also being abused at an increasingly alarming rate, and that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends," remarked Dr. David Kloth, national spokesman, board member and past president for ASIPP.

"Our membership of over 4,000 Interventional Pain Management doctors is hoping to use National Pain Awareness Month as a means of outreach and education for people who are suffering or know of someone who is," added Kloth. "Interventional Pain Management offers alternative techniques and treatments that help to reduce the reliance upon prescription drugs to relieve, reduce, or manage pain."

To find a qualified pain management physician in your area go to http://www.asippmembersite.org/Search/Search.php.

About The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians

ASIPP's mission statement is to promote the development and practice of safe, high quality, cost-effective Interventional Pain Management techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of pain and related disorders, and to ensure patient access to these interventions.  Founded in 1998 by Chairman of the Board and CEO Laxmaiah Manchikanti, MD, ASIPP is a rapidly growing not-for-profit organization that supports the access to interventional techniques and the needs of physicians who practice accountable Interventional Pain Management across the country.

Since its inception, the organization has had substantial impact on the practice of Interventional Pain Management, resulting in an impressive list of major achievements.  In 2005, ASIPP succeeded in passing The National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act (NASPER), which provides and improves patient access to quality care, and protects patients and physicians from the deleterious effects of controlled substance misuse, abuse and trafficking.  ASIPP is headquartered in Paducah, KY and currently has 4,500 members.  For more information, visit www.asipp.org or call 270.554.9412. Ext. 215.

SOURCE American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians