Opiate addictions are the fastest growing segment of addiction even among the elderly.  Too often pain management can lead to relapse and/or to heroin use, which is one of the reasons underlying the increase of heroin use in the U.S.  More and more research is beginning to indicate that physical pain is often related to emotional trauma and stress.  The body holds on to this trauma and stress triggers pain as a way of signaling us that something is wrong.  Research is also indicating that mindfulness can help us to regulate and manage pain in a way that lowers our need for opiates.  We practice an exercise in mindfulness this week