More than half of adults in the United States experienced chronic or recurrent pain in 2003 (Peter D. Hart Research Associates 2003). Effective management of pain not only reduces suffering, but also improves sleep, reduces affective stress, and increases levels of daily functioning (Roper Public Affairs & Media 2004; Schneider 2005). This publication will assist healthcare providers in understanding that opioid medications can effectively manage pain, distinguishing between physical and psychological dependence, and reducing their patients’ risk of psychological dependence on opioids during pain management.