ABSTRACT
One of the biggest challenges facing health professionals is adequate pain management. People may present with any of the various medical or surgical problems causing acute pain including serious illnesses, injuries and infectious diseases. For these people acute pain management following surgery or trauma may be especially problematic. Many misconceptions arise around pain management and opioid dependence due to common stereotypes associated with dependence. This stereotyping can lead to inappropriate or suboptimal pain management. The physical conditions of tolerance and withdrawal do not in themselves indicate psychological dependence or problematic drug use. Definitions help to clarify the relationship among physical tolerance, dependence and pain management. Pseudo-psychological dependence, in the context of pain management, is where a person appears to be drug seeking but is merely trying to ensure adequate pain relief. With adequate pain management, aberrant pseudo-psychological dependence behaviours should cease.
