Politics and fear have replaced science in U.S. pain management

<p>Patient advocate Richard A. Lawhern, PhD, discusses the article "<a href= "https://kevinmd.com/2026/01/u-s-opioid-policy-history-how-politics-replaced-science-in-pain-care.html">U.S. opioid policy history: How politics replaced science in pain care</a>." Richard argues that for decades, public policy on pain treatment has been driven by sociopolitical factors rather than medical science. He traces the history from the "business corruption" phase of pill mills to the current "political phase" launched by the 2016 CDC guidelines. The conversation highlights how anti-opioid zealotry and legal fears have forced physicians to abandon effective …