Pain Topics
Salt Lake Tribune Publishes Letter: Utah deserves a representative who, unlike Rep. Blake Moore, challenges reckless presidential decisions
This article, in a slightly edited form, first appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune on March 28, 2026. In a recent Salt Lake Tribune article, Rep. Blake Moore said it would be “irresponsible” to tie President Trump’s hands in Iran. What is truly irresponsible is to applaud a war that put Utahns in danger and then…
Read MoreCrime of the Century: Addiction Is Not That Simple
Crime of the Century had the opportunity to debunk myths about addiction. Instead, it confuses the terms addiction and physical dependence and propagates misinformation.
Read MoreTrading One Crisis for Another Is No Answer to the Opioid Epidemic
This article, in a slightly edited form, first appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune on May 20, 2021. Many years ago, I took on an unforgettable patient (“Jack”) who was on a high dose of physician-prescribed opioids. He wanted me to continue his high dosage. But I was unsure whether the benefit of doing…
Read MoreCOVID-19 and People in Pain
I wanted to share an article that I recently wrote for The Pandemic Lens. It is a curated venue where selected photographers, painters, writers, and other artists can present works that express their reactions to the pandemic. I was honored to be asked to participate. This article, in a slightly edited form, first appeared on…
Read MoreAre We Living in the Matrix?
A recent Netflix documentary, “The Social Dilemma,” illustrates how social media networks are selling each of us as commodities to advertisers. Tristan Harris, a former Google employee, points out that platforms such as Reddit, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram make money by allowing advertisers to target only those who are interested in their messages or products
Read MoreThe American Medical Association Takes on the CDC Opioid Guidelines
The new recommendation offered by the AMA holds to a long-held belief by many physicians with expertise in pain and addiction medicine that patients with a current, or a history of an, opioid use disorder should receive effective pain care, including opioid therapy, when clinically indicated and in consideration of known risks and benefits.
Read MoreWill Marijuana Be Decriminalized at the Federal Level?
Upcoming election results will likely determine whether the MORE Act has a chance to become law in the near future. It behooves every voter to become familiar with the candidates’ positions regarding cannabis. Criminalizing marijuana has caused great harm. We, as voters, have the power to change that.
Read MoreHow to Say Goodbye
COVID-19 has forced me to think about the reality that death can catch any of us by surprise. As I write this, we are in the midst of a pandemic that has infected more than 17 million people and taken more than 680,000 lives worldwide. Many of the COVID-19 victims died alone and didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to their loved ones.
Read MorePain Gene: Interesting, but Insufficient
How we experience pain is a result of both environmental and genetic features. The genetic factors are what we inherit.
Read More“First, Do No Harm” Doesn’t Mean “Avoid Opioid Therapy”
A mischaracterization of the phrase “First, do no harm” must not prevent providers from caring for people, or prevent policymakers from allowing physicians to treat their patients. That treatment must include providing patients with medication that can adequately provide pain relief with acceptable risk.
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