Few insurance companies did much to discourage abuse. Before OxyContin burst onto the scene, chronic pain was treated with a combination of psychotherapy, biofeedback, exercise, and physical therapy. The goal was to leave the painkillers at the door. Although several studies had showed that this multidisciplinary approach to relieving pain worked just as well if not better than chronic drug use, the fact remained that the drugs were less expensive than the therapies. Unfortunately, many insurance companies encouraged the drugs. At best, this was shortsighted. Workers who took high doses of
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