Chronic pain costly, destructive, widespread - doctors

A leading pain specialist says chronic pain is a costly and destructive disease that drives poverty and can ruin lives. A new report released today says one in five New Zealanders suffers from chronic pain. It says that costs the country more than diabetes or dementia, but services are poor and stretched. The Sapere report was done for the Faculty of Pain Medicine in the College of Anaesthetists. The faculty head, Christchurch anaesthetist, Ted Shipton, tells health correspondent Karen Brown it's a crisis.