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The number of people experiencing chronic pain and coexistingpsychological disorders, including addiction, have been increasingsignificantly. According to the International Association for the Study ofPain, in 1999 there were approximately 86 million Americans suffering fromchronic pain. In 2003, Peter D. Hart Research Associates found that the numberincreased to over 117 million adults. Of that number, at least 10% hadabuse/addiction problems. According to research published in the 2006 issue ofPain Physician Journal, 90% of people in the US receiving treatment for painmanagement are prescribed opiate medication of which 9%-41% had opiateabuse/addiction issues. What is harder to quantify is the emotional cost tofamily systems when one or more members suffer with a chronic pain conditionand other disorders, including addiction.
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Dr. Stephen F. Grinstead, Owner and Developer of The Addiction-Free PainManagement (APM) System said: "The APM Treatment System was designed to meetthe specific needs of this population by addressing both the addictivedisorder and the pain disorder concurrently using a multi-disciplinarytreatment plan. The physical, psychological, and social implications of thesedisorders are critical components of the APM System which uses a three partapproach and a collaborative multi-disciplinary treatment team. Thesecomponents include: (1) A medication management plan; (2) A cognitive-behavioral treatment plan; and (3) A non-pharmacological pain management planfor developing safer medication-free ways to manage pain."
The APM Center of Excellence (COE) designation recognizes treatmentproviders who have demonstrated skilled pain management and addictiontreatment services through the use of the Addiction-Free Pain ManagementSystem and the Gorski-CENAPS Model of Treatment. The COE process was developedby Dr. Stephen F. Grinstead in collaboration with Terence T. Gorski and theGorski-CENAPS Corporation. Providers must meet the rigorous standards forendorsement to be officially recognized and Valley Forge Medical Center's PainManagement Program will be one step closer to receiving the full designationafter the Denial Management training.
About Valley Forge Medical Center: Since 1973, Valley Forge Medical Centerand Hospital has provided comprehensive treatment to adults with substanceabuse and associated physical, social, and psychological disorders. ValleyForge Medical Center and Hospital is a licensed, general hospital approved bythe Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs andaccredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation for HealthcareOrganizations (JCAHO). For more information, please call (888)539-8500 orvisit www.vfmc.net.
About Dr. Stephen F. Grinstead, LMFT, ACRPS, CADC-II: Dr. Grinstead is anauthor and internationally recognized expert in preventing relapse related tochronic pain disorders. He and his wife Ellen Grinstead own and operateGrinstead Consulting, Training & Coaching Services dedicated to assisting inthe treatment of chronic pain and co-existing addictive disorders. Dr.Grinstead developed the Addiction-Free Pain Management System to providehealthcare professionals with specific tools and evidence-based manualizedtreatment to support them and patients
