Its survey indicates 30 percent of Canadians suffer from pain at least a few times a week, a Canadian advocacy group reporting on under-treated pain says.

Canwest News Service reported on Thursday that painexplained. ca said the poll of 1,033 people, conducted April 13-15 by Leger Marketing, indicated 85 percent of respondents suffered moderate-to-severe pain during the three months leading up to the survey and more than half said they didn't seek medical treatment.

Dr. Roman Jovey, a committee member of painexplained. ca and former president of the Canadian Pain Society, said, "Pain is still misunderstood and under-treated. As a result, Canadians are suffering needless pain that costs the economy as much as heart disease or cancer in lost productivity."

The survey indicated 18 percent of those polled used alcohol, illegal drugs or non-prescribed drugs to self-treat their pain and more than 80 percent said they turned to over-the-counter medication.

About half of respondents said they used vitamins, massage therapy or other treatments to deal with their pain, the advocacy group have said. (With Inputs from Agencies)