NIH Study Shows 11.2% of Americans in Pain Save

Using statistics gathered by the NIH in 2012, the National Health Interview Survey of 8781 adults showed self-reported chronic pain affects 25.3 million adults, or 11.2% of the populatoin. Based on the persistence and bothersomeness of their pain, 14.4 million adults (6.4%) were classified as having category 4 pain, the highest level of pain, with an additional 25.4 million adults (11.3%) experiencing category 3 pain. Category 3/4 patients exhibited worse health status, used more health care, and suffered more disability than those with less severe pain. (Citation source http://buff.ly/1EmRPQh)

These findings underlie the growing use of complementary medications and narcotics for pain management. The CDC estimates roughly 44 people die each day in the United States as a result of prescription opioid overdose. In 2013, drug overdoses caused more deaths than motor vehicle crashes, according to the agency.