CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Chronic pain has driven many individuals down a dangerous path, sometimes leading to opioid addiction, according to Dr. Scott Wagner of Advanced Pain Management of Virginia. He shared his passion for helping families who have seen their loved ones transform due to pain and addiction. “All of a sudden, this kid’s doing heroin or died of heroin,” Wagner said. Research, he noted, shows that 72% of heroin-related deaths began with prescription medications, highlighting the urgent need for alternative pain management solutions. 

Dr. Wagner emphasized that understanding pain is key to preventing these tragedies. “You got to understand that pain will drive good people to do bad things,” he stated. Many young people suffering from sports injuries, he explained, initially seek pain relief just to continue their activities. However, without proper intervention, addiction can take hold. He shared stories of individuals who progressed from pain relief to full-blown addiction, altering their lives and relationships. 

Partnering with Dr. Chierichetti, a pain management specialist, Wagner advocates for a holistic approach that moves beyond just prescribing medication. Their clinic focuses on individualized treatments, looking at the entire body rather than isolating symptoms. “Now you combine these forces when you get someone out of pain… now they can focus on getting better,” Wagner said. By addressing chronic pain with a more comprehensive strategy, Wagner and his team hope to provide lasting solutions and prevent the cycle of addiction before it begins.  

Listen to the full conversation here: