‘The opioid crisis and the very radical actions that were taken, as well as the advertising campaigns related to the opioid crisis were stigmatizing for people living with pain’, says Hélène Beaudry (QPRN), Le Devoir
To counter the opioid crisis, there were changes in the pain treatment guidelines in 2017. These drugs are no longer prescribed as a first treatment option for people living with pain. Alternative therapies in combination with medications are now recommended. However, in addition to overdose and addiction, the opioid crisis also brought with it several other challenges such as stigma, anxiety and fear surrounding the use of these analgesic drugs for pain management. To help raise awareness to this invisible disease and break down taboos, the Quebec Chronic Pain Association, the Quebec Pain Research Network and their partners have organized the Walk Against Chronic Pain on May 18th 2024.
