Originally established pursuant to SJR 72 in 1994, the Joint Subcommittee to Study the Commonwealth's Current Laws and Policies Related to Chronic, Acute and Cancer Pain Management was continued in 1995 by HJR 583, in 1996 by HJR 256, and in 1997 by HJR 565.

The initial enabling resolution, SJR 72, focused solely on issues relating to acute and cancer pain. This resolution noted that primary care is often sought because of acute pain, and that at least 80 percent of injuries result in acute pain. Senate Joint Resolution 72 also explained that there have been great advances in pain management techniques in recent years, specifically recognizing work done by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in developing the national acute and cancer pain guidelines. Conventional treatments, the resolution averred, do not provide relief in approximately 50 percent of patients, and 25 percent of cancer patients die without experiencing relief from severe pain.

The initial enabling resolution (SJR 72 of 1994) also detailed that unrelieved pain can contribute to delays in return of normal stomach and bowel functions following surgical procedures, thereby delaying hospital discharges. Further, inadequate pain management may cause physiological and psychological effects and increased morbidity, for example, pneumonia and infections. The preambles also described effective acute and cancer pain management as including pharmacologic treatment, including opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), as well as nonpharmacologic strategies, such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), biofeedback, relaxation, and massage.

The 1994 resolution directed the joint subcommittee to examine the following matters: current acute and cancer pain management efforts in the Commonwealth; the effectiveness of acute and cancer pain management provided by the Commonwealth's medical schools, health care providers, and acute and cancer pain management clinics; Virginia's current law and public policy related to acute and cancer pain management; current Virginia training, including continuing education, in acute pain management; the special pain management needs of infants, children, and adolescents; and the impact of inadequate pain management on resource utilization and costs.

The primary objective of the 1995 continuing resolution HJR 583 was to educate the medical and health care community on appropriate and effective acute and cancer pain management by holding a pain management summit.

In 1996, the focus of the subcommittee evolved via HJR 256 to include consideration of issues related to chronic pain management.

The eleven-member joint subcommittee consists of three senators, four Delegates, and five citizens, of whom three are physicians with expertise in the areas of pain management and complementary care.