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Veterans Give Voice to Invisible Wounds of War

APF’s Director of Program Development, Tamara Sloan Anderson, and the APF Military/Veterans team recently attended a week-long conference as members of the Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. Tamara shared her thoughts and conference experiences on the need for paradigm change and improved care across healthcare systems. Click here to read Viewpoint. Listen to APF’s NEWEST audio show, Pain and the Military.

APF Calls For Balanced Reporting of Misuse of Prescription Drugs and the Medical Necessity of Pain Medications

APF recently submitted an Op Ed (Opposite Editorial) and a Letter to the Editor to the Las Vegas Sun in response to a series of articles titled The New Addiction. The articles discussed the link between abuse, addiction and diversion to an increase in pain medication prescriptions and how prescription medications can be illegally diverted. APF believes the articles failed to adequately recognize the medical necessity of potent pain medications for people debilitated from chronic pain. To view the Op Ed, click here. To read the Letter to the Editor, click here.

APF and HealthCentral Network Call for Artistic Submissions for Creativity and Pain Exhibit

APF and The HealthCentral Network, Inc. announced their call for entries for the second annual “Pain and Creativity Exhibit”. Those dealing with chronic pain from around the world are encouraged to submit expressions of how pain has influenced their lives. Welcome submissions include photos of still art, videos, music and writing that reflect the experience of pain, as well as quilt blocks that will be incorporated into a larger work of art.

Select artists and their pain stories will be highlighted through video, online and print publications to help share and illuminate the stories of pain and its impact on individuals and families. Selected videos and the completed pain quilt will be shown at APF’s annual celebration and awards dinner, Images and Inspiration, to be held in Baltimore, Maryland on October 23rd. Click here to electronically submit an entry. Online submissions must be entered by September 15th. Quilt submissions must be received by August 15th. Read the full press release.

Calling for quilt block submissions!

Create and submit an actual quilt square that represents your journey with pain, or the journey of a loved one. Quilts are a literal and figurative symbol of comfort and the joining of patchwork is a symbol of unity and community. Find out how you can send your quilt square to the American Pain Foundation, and have it joined with the quilt squares of other pain sufferers. Quilt submissions must be received by August 15th. Read for the full press release with further quilt information.

APF Collaborates with Life Love & Health

APF collaborates with Life Love & Health to launch a series of brief messages about pain. Life Love & Health has become America's most listened-to daily health and lifestyle program, reaching millions of listeners. Listen to our NEWEST show, Pain and the Military. Other recent shows include Fibromyalgia is Real and Risk with Medication. For more shows, click here.

APF Calls for Caution on Black Box Labeling and Balanced Decisions Regarding Benefit and Risk

APF has concerns about a Food and Drug Administration hearing scheduled for July 10, 2008, on anticonvulsant risk of increased suicidality and whether to require a black box warning label. APF commends efforts to investigate all potential risks. However, we ask agency experts to bear in mind that there are always risks in treating chronic medical conditions and the benefits of these treatments are often great. Please read APF's position statement.

APF is Pleased to Welcome Derek McGinnis as the New Amputee Outreach Program Advocate!

Derek joins APF’s Military/Veterans team to further the mission of APF and specifically to focus on members of the military and veterans who have pain, and who have experienced amputation and its painful consequences. Derek will be working with APF on local and national levels. Derek is an Iraq war veteran where he served in the Navy as a Corpsman until he was wounded in November of 2004 in Fallujah. He was most recently employed as a Program Support Assistant at the VA in Palo Alto California. He has a BS in Health Care Administration, is pursuing a Masters Degree in Social Work, and is a competitive athlete. Recent articles about Derek's achievements include "Life Shattered in Iraq Pieced Back Together" (watch the video) and "Disabled Vets Plunge into Alcatraz Triathlon." For information on Amputation, please click here.

Action Alert: WA State Residents - Share Your Pain Story
If you are a WA State resident interested in sharing your story and registering your opinion with the public, elected officials and other decision makers in Washington State, please complete our WA State Pain Survey. By sharing your voice and experience, you will help increase awareness about the need for timely and appropriate pain care. Click here to take action and for more information. If you are not a Washington resident but would like to share your story, please visit Voices of People with Pain.

Veterans Pain Care Act of 2008 (HR 6122) Introduced in the House!

Pain is a leading cause of disability among veterans. As a result, providing adequate pain management is a crucial component of improving veteran health care. Thanks to Representative Walz of Minnesota who has sponsored the bill, the Veterans Pain Care Act of 2008 (HR 6122) has been introduced to the House of Representatives. TAKE ACTION NOW!

The New Health.com Website Provides Comprehensive Information on Chronic Pain

APF’s MissouriPOP Action Network Leader, Rebecca Rengo, and APF Board Member and Pain Advisory Community Council Member, Andrea Cooper, both trained advocates, were interviewed by Time, Inc. about their experiences living with fibromyalgia. These and other interviews are available on the new Health.com website. Click here to view the chronic pain section of the website. Go to the section entitled, “Real Pain, Real Stories,” for “Be the Best Patient You Can Be,” “Building a Health Team,” and “Joy is the Greatest Analgesic in the World” and other related stories.

Leading Pain Organizations’ Support of Fibromyalgia Community Recognized Through Charitable Donation Program!

The American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA), American Pain Foundation (APF) and National Pain Foundation (NPF) are pleased to announce that in recognition of Fibromyalgia Awareness Day and the support they provide to millions of people affected by chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, Pfizer is providing a charitable donation to support their educational activities and advocacy efforts. Click here to view the full joint statement.

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