Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Pain Burden and Pain Management in the Context of Opioid Overdose Risk

Purpose of ReviewOpioid deaths have risen to unprecedented rates in the USA. Efforts to mitigate the opioid crisis include supply-side strategies that reduce opioid availability. However, Patients of Color have historically reported less access to analgesia and worse pain burden and pain management than Whites. In this narrative review, we examine the recent literature on racial/ethnic disparities in pain care, including opioid access, and provide recommendations for advancing equity in pain management.Recent FindingsBoth cancer pain and non-cancer pain studies provide strong evidence of racial/ethnic disparities in pain burden and pain management. Compared with Whites, Patients of Color reported worse pain severity and less access to opioid and non-opioid analgesia. Rates of pain assessment/documentation during clinic visits were also lower among Patients of Color relative to their White counterparts.SummaryRacial/ethnic disparities continue to persist in pain burden and pain management. To prevent further exacerbation of existing racial/ethnic disparities in pain management, equity must be prioritized in the broader opioid debate.