In the U. S there are powerful vested interests at play in the pharmaceutical world, plus there are financial obstacles to treating pain non pharmacologically. If you don't have money or insurance you cannot see a pain psychologist or physio or a pain specialist.
Lack of basic social support feeds into the problem, a situation we in Australia and the those in the UK should heed. I read yesterday that in the UK you had a higher chance of dying from cancer than from graduating from Uni.
We take our families and social network for granted, but when you do not have these, and rely on the state, and the state offers none, then you truly having nothing and no where to turn.
It's a pretty poor reflection on a society when you have to call your insurer before you call the ambulance/doctor.
Graz