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Pain is the most common reason for patients seeking advice from their physician. One adult in five suffers from chronic pain. In general, musculoskeletal pain, often in the form of arthritis, non-articular rheumatism, peripheral neuropathies and low back disorders, represents the most common cause of chronic non-malignant pain (CNMP). Exposure to low social support, low social anchorage or low social participation significantly increases the odds of a high level of pain. Most patients do not attribute chronic musculoskeletal pain to injury, but those who do report significantly higher levels of emotional distress. Pain is the third leading reason for absence from work in the United States, where the problem of chronic pain translates into an annual expenditure of at least $50 billion. The effectiveness of opioids for chronic pain goes unchallenged, but issues of potential dependence, abuse, and social and legal concerns have rendered their use in CNMP controversial. Numerous consensus statements, guidelines and policies have been issued by a variety of advocate organisations for the treatment of CNMP with opioids. Undertreatment of chronic pain persists despite the availability of drugs and other therapies for effective pain management.