About the...

Pain & Policy Studies Group

406 Science Drive, Suite 202
Madison, WI 53711-1068
Telephone: (608) 263-7662
Fax: (608) 263-0259

PPSG Brochure

Our Vision

Our vision is that people who suffer pain from cancer, AIDS, surgery, accidents, and chronic conditions will have relief from their pain and a better quality of life; and that caregivers will know when and how to use opioid analgesics without fear of regulatory agencies.

Our Mission

Our mission is to "balance" international, national and state policies to ensure adequate availability of pain medications for patient care while minimizing diversion and abuse, and to support a global communications program to improve access to information about pain relief, palliative care, and policy.

• Article about the mission and work of the PPSG

We are interested in the extent to which the regulation (or the perception of regulation) of drugs and professional practice affects pain management. Much of our work focuses on identifying and addressing the barriers to medical use of opioid analgesics (narcotic drugs), which are essential to chronic pain management and palliative care. 

Our work is accomplished through a University program which includes

• Research
  • Methods to evaluate policy and barriers
  • Surveys of regulators, clinicians
  • Analysis of laws, regulations and other policy
• Education
  • Programs for clinicians, regulators, and policy makers
  • Fellowships for regulators
  • Internships for University students
• Communication
  • Publication of articles and monographs
  • Newsletter publication
  • Websites

The Group's work is multidisciplinary; we collaborate with colleagues at the University of Wisconsin and other academic institutions, agencies of federal and state governments, and associations of professionals, health care providers and patients. Financial support is provided to the University in the form of grants or unrestricted gifts from government agencies, educational and scientific foundations, and industry.

As a WHO Collaborating Center, the PPSG supports a program of international policy studies to identify and address barriers to opioid availability in national policy and national health care systems. This objective is accomplished through comparative studies of national policy, development of research methods and demonstration projects. We provide technical assistance and monitor progress to improve the availability of opioid analgesics for pain management and palliative care.

The PPSG also sponsors a WHO communications program directed at improving health professionals' access to information about pain management, palliative care and pain-related policy. This objective is accomplished through publication of the quarterly WHO newsletter and  maintenance of a World Wide Website for Cancer Pain Release, and a network of communications. We are also developing a comprehensive data base of educational and informational materials.

The Collaborating Center strives to make its work multidisciplinary and relevant to diverse cultures and languages. The Center collaborates with the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization, the International Narcotics Control Board, Ministries of Health, drug regulators and associations for pain and palliative care in numerous countries, including the International Association for the Study of Pain.

The easiest way to learn more about our international activities is to look at the Collaborating Center's "WHO Annual Report."

Awards and Recognition

David E. Joranson, MSSW, was recognized on September 24, 2005 by the American Academy of Pain Management with the Legislative Policy and Advocacy Award. This award is given to the individual who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to pain advocacy and who has achieved a notable milestone in either Federal or State legislation which advances the field of pain management.

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David E. Joranson has been honored with the 2004 Vittorio Ventafridda Award (IAHPC Recognition Award). Click the link for more information.

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David E. Joranson, director of the Pain & Policy Studies Group, is the recipient of the second Marie Nyswander Humanitarian Award for his “extraordinary efforts to enhance the compassionate care of addiction and pain.” The award was presented to Mr. Joranson at the International Conference on Pain & Chemical Dependency in New York City on June 7, 2002.

The late Dr. Marie Nyswander and her husband Dr. Vincent Dole have been pioneers in the treatment of opiate addiction through methadone treatment. Their distinctive mission and life work, dedicated to understanding opiate addiction and ministering compassionate care to opiate addicted persons, has helped enrich and indeed save the lives of thousands.

Mr. Joranson has also been recognized by the American Pain Society.   In 1999 Joranson received the "John and Emma Bonica Public Service Award" and in 1998 he received the "Distinguished Service Award."

Acknowledgements

We are deeply grateful to our dearly departed friend and colleague Bob Angarola for his contributions to pain policy, to this Group, and to many of us, both personally and professionally.

We also wish to acknowledge the numerous individuals and organizations in the world who are working to identify and address barriers to implementing currently available therapies for pain.