Power Over Pain (POP) is a public awareness program being coordinated by the Connecticut Cancer Pain Initiative (CCPI) and the American Cancer Society (ACS). Key partners are nurses from the CCPI, Connecticut Chapter of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses (ASPMN), the Central Connecticut Chapters of the Oncology Nursing Society (CCONS), and Hospice and Palliative Care organizations.

POP was developed by the Florida Chapter of ASPMN and is now coordinated nationally by the American Pain Foundation (APF) in collaboration with the American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives (AACPI), ASPMN, and ACS. It is a grassroots effort designed to bring together organizations and individuals who are willing to work collaboratively to improve pain care in their communities. The goal of this campaign is to increase the public’s awareness of the adverse health effects of unrelieved pain, how to communicate with health care providers about pain, and their right to effective treatment.

POP has developed a Pain Education Tool-Kit that includes PowerPoint or slide presentations for public or professional audiences that are available for use in the community. To request a pain education program for a public or professional group, or to volunteer to be a POP trainer, email at Patricia Trotta at the Connecticut Pain Initiative.