I want decision makers to know how I feel about this issue. How can I make my voice heard?
There are many ways you can play a role in shaping public policy on pain management.
You can contact your elected federal and state officials and ask them to make pain care a priority. Find out how by visiting your state's Internet home page or these national links:
You can ask your member of the House of Representatives to support HR 1020, the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2005. For more information about the bill and what you can do to support it, visit the American Pain Foundation's online advocacy center at www.painfoundation.org and click on "TAKE ACTION!".
For a guide to having September declared Pain Awareness Month in your state or community, download the Partners for Understanding Pain Proclamation Tool Kit at www.theacpa.org/documents/Proclamations Process Guide Tool Kit6.pdf.
To help you create awareness in your communities about the far-reaching implications pain has on an individual's life, go to www.nationalpainfoundation.org/NationalPainAwareness/default.asp .
Finally, there is a Pain Advocacy Tool Kit available for those who want to play a more active role at www.partnersagainstpain.com/painadvocacycommunity.
