The American Pain Society (APS) was a professional membership organization and a national chapter of the

International Association for the Study of Pain The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) is an international learned society promoting research, education, and policies for the understanding, prevention, and treatment of pain. IASP was founded in 1973 under the leadership of ...

(IASP). The organization closed in 2019 amid the

opioid epidemic The opioid epidemic, also referred to as the opioid crisis, is the rapid increase in the overuse, misuse or abuse, and overdose deaths attributed either in part or in whole to the class of drugs called opiates or opioids since the 1990s. It inc ...

as the organization faced allegations that it colluded with opioid producers to promote opioids.

History

Around the time of

Purdue Pharma Purdue Pharma L.P., formerly the Purdue Frederick Company (1892–2019), was an American privately held pharmaceutical company founded by John Purdue Gray. It was sold to Arthur Sackler, Arthur, Mortimer Sackler, Mortimer, and Raymond Sackler in 1 ...

releasing OxyContin into the market in 1996, the society introduced "pain as 5th vital sign" campaign. APS was reported to be one of several nonprofit groups that advocated use of opioid painkillers contributing to the

Opioid epidemic in the United States There is an ongoing opioid epidemic (also known as the opioid crisis) in the United States, originating out of both medical prescriptions and illegal sources. It has been described as "one of the most devastating public health catastrophes ...

. In June 2019, the APS was forced to close amid allegations that it colluded with pharmaceutical companies producing opioids. The APS claimed that the reason for the bankruptcy was the numerous legal expenses which resulted from lawsuits claiming the organization was acting as a

front group A front organization is any entity set up by and controlled by another organization, such as intelligence agencies, organized crime groups, terrorist organizations, secret societies, banned organizations, religious or political groups, advocacy ...

for opioid drugmakers. ''

The Chronicle of Higher Education ''The Chronicle of Higher Education'' is an American newspaper and website that presents news, information, and jobs for college and university faculty and student affairs professionals, including staff members and administrators. A subscription ...

'' reported that several former APS members are organizing a new society called the U.S. Association for the Study of Pain.

ACTTION-APS Pain Taxonomy

Together with The Analgesic, Anesthetic, and Addiction Clinical Trial Translations Innovations Opportunities and Networks (ACTTION) partnership with the FDA, the APS developed the ACTTION-APS Pain Taxonomy (AAPT) to provide a consistent diagnostic system for chronic pain disorders.

Publications

The society's official journal was titled ''The Journal of Pain'', and published by

Elsevier Elsevier ( ) is a Dutch academic publishing company specializing in scientific, technical, and medical content. Its products include journals such as ''The Lancet'', ''Cell (journal), Cell'', the ScienceDirect collection of electronic journals, ...

. The society had issued a total of nine guidelines throughout its period of existence.

References

{{authority control Medical associations based in the United States Organizations established in 1977 Medical and health organizations based in Illinois 1977 establishments in the United States 2019 disestablishments in Illinois Organizations disestablished in 2019 Medical and health professional associations in Chicago Opioid epidemic in the United States