IASP^® Global Year Against Pain

IASP sponsors and promotes the Global Year Against Pain, a yearlong initiative designed to raise awareness of the different aspects of pain worldwide.

Why focus on pain?

Pain — particularly chronic pain — is a serious problem that affects people’s quality of life worldwide. As the average lifespan increases, the issues surrounding pain will continue to grow. In developing countries in particular, while there are a number of serious diseases that can cause severe pain, there is often little or no pain relief available for those afflicted with such diseases.

The control of pain has been a relatively neglected area of governmental concern in the past, despite the fact that cost-effective methods of pain control are available.

IASP’s leaders and members believe it is time to raise the profile of pain worldwide and promote the recognition of chronic pain as an important health concern. Although few people die of pain, millions die in pain, and even more live in pain.

The Global Year Against Pain

The European Federation of IASP Chapters (EFIC) first launched the Global Day Against Pain when David Niv, IASP member and EFIC president (now deceased), conceived the idea in 2001. Following the success of this initiative, the IASP Council recognized the need to develop an even more powerful statement to raise the profile of pain worldwide. In 2004, supported by various IASP chapters and federations holding their own local events and activities across the globe, IASP launched its first Global Year Against Pain.

Each year, IASP focuses on raising awareness of a different aspect of pain that has global implications. The official launch day takes place on the third Monday of every October.

The focus for the 2008–2009 Global Year campaign, which launched on October 20, 2008, is Cancer Pain.