A survey of people who suffer chronic pain finds that many of them feel uncomfortable when they visit their pharmacy.

In a National Pain Foundation survey of more 300 chronic pain sufferers:

• More than half (52%) stated that they "are concerned that they will be treated like a drug addict by their pharmacist." 
• An additional 29% stated that they "are concerned that they will be embarrassed by their pharmacist."

"This comes as no surprise given the plethora of media attention on prescription pain medicine abuse, addiction and death," said foundation’s Chair, Daniel Bennett, MD. "The problem is that the vast majority of people who use pain medicine need those medicines, and they should not be treated any differently than someone fulfilling a prescription for an antibiotic or an antidepressant.”

Nearly 1 in 5 respondents (17%) said they were "treated poorly or very poorly" by their pharmacist, 17% replied they had.

To see all results from "I'm Treated Like A…" survey, click here.

Comments from the survey included:

• I'm left feeling like my pain is all in my head and am not taken seriously. Very frustrating!
• I have been degraded, humiliated, called a drug addict, told I take enough meds to kill an elephant.
• I have a wonderful team of doctors, but it took 10 years of being treated poorly before I was diagnosed.
• Most treat me with suspicion and assume I'm a drug-seeking addict.
• Sometimes I don't feel like they understand.
• My doctor is more worried about the DEA than about treating me.
• Of all the doctors I've seen, only two heard me and understood.The rest assumed I was there for drugs.

The National Pain Foundation is conducting a series of surveys of people in pain to "give voice" to the 1.5 billion people who suffer in chronic pain globally. According to the Institutes of Medicine, 100 million American adults suffer in pain, costing $635 billion in medical treatment and lost productivity. Pain affects more people than cancer, diabetes and heart disease combined. 304-876-1677

Read more news from The National Pain Foundation.