Objective: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) represents an important group of medical treatments that are frequently excluded from health economic assessments. Chronic non-cancer pain is one area where CAM may provide significant patient benefit. The purpose of this study was to describe CAM use in outpatients with non-cancer chronic pain and to describe variables of interest in CAM users. Methods: Prospective observational analysis at a tertiary care university teaching hospital conducted among outpatients with non-cancer chronic pain. We collected data using a daily log completed by patients during a one-week period. Variables included gender, ethnicity, pain source, type(s) of CAM used, health care utilization, and work hours missed. Results: Of the 263 patients (75% female, 25% male), 95% used CAM (mean age 50.6, standard deviation 13.8). CAM was used by 94% of Caucasians, 97% of African-Americans, and 95% other (mean number of CAM 5). Frequently used CAMs included rest (77%), changing position (66%), hot/cold packs (58%), prayer (41%), exercise (39%), massage (36%), epidurals (26%), and talking to someone (25%). Mean number of CAM used by pain source was cancer (3), headache (4.1), > 1 pain source (5.3), musculoskeletal (5.2), rheumatology (5.3), and sickle cell (5.7). Patients used 1-3 (low), 4-6 (medium), or >/= 7 (high) therapies 32%, 38%, and 30% of the time, respectively. The mean number of doctor's appointments (p=0.04) and work hours missed (p=0.03) significantly increased with increasing CAM use (low, medium, or high). Conclusion: CAM utilization is common among patients with chronic non-cancer pain and should be considered in health economic assessments. Most patients used one CAM and many used more than one. Patients using more CAMs had higher health care utilization and missed more work. Future research aimed at measuring the incremental cost-effectiveness of CAM in relation to and in addition to pharmaceutical treatments would be worthwhile.