Valley Forge Medical Center and Hospital to Become the First Addiction-Free Pain Management Center of Excellence on the East Coast; Will Host Three Day Professional Trainin...( WHAT: Denial Management Training for...),Health

WHAT: Denial Management Training for Chronic Pain Patients with Substance

Use Disorders

WHO: Valley Forge Medical Center & Hospital WHERE: 1033 W. Germantown Pike Norristown, PA 19403 WHEN: June 4th - 6th,

2008 8:30 - 4:30 pm

PHILADELPHIA, June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Valley Forge Medical Center and Hospital is the first facility on the East Coast to obtain the Addiction-Free Pain Management (APM) Center of Excellence provisional designation, providing cutting edge treatment for people suffering with chronic pain and prescription drug abuse. They are hosting a 3-day professional training seminar June 4-6, 2008 as part of The APM Center of Excellence requirements. The training, Denial Management for Chronic Pain Patients with Substance Use Disorders, is open to the public and will focus on how to deal more effectively with clients exhibiting denial and treatment resistance.

The number of people experiencing chronic pain and coexisting psychological disorders, including addiction, have been increasing significantly. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, in 1999 there were approximately 86 million Americans suffering from chronic pain. In 2003, Peter D. Hart Research Associates found that the number increased to over 117 million adults. Of that number, at least 10% had abuse/addiction problems. According to research published in the 2006 issue of Pain Physician Journal, 90% of people in the US receiving treatment for pain management are prescribed opiate medication of which 9%-41% had opiate abuse/addiction issues. What is harder to quantify is the emotional cost to family systems when one or more members suffer with a chronic pain condition and other disorders, including addiction.

Dr. Stephen F. Grinstead, Owner and Developer of The Addiction-Free Pain Management (APM) System said: "The APM Treatment System was designed to meet the specific
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