State cancer pain initiatives.

Interest and participation in state cancer pain initiatives have grown rapidly in the past 5 yr. Of signal importance to these state efforts is the fact that several national groups have made relief of cancer pain a priority. State cancer pain initiatives will play a key role in disseminating basic pain-management information, in changing practice and ultimately in evaluating the effectiveness of cancer pain control efforts. They are dedicated to making relief of cancer pain a reality. That is a challenge that will occupy them for many years to come.