This study explored hospitalized substance abusers' perspectives about getting their pain adequately addressed in the hospital setting and their interactions with nurses about pain-management issues. The aim of the study was to generate theory that can contribute to a greater understanding of the problem of pain management with this population. A grounded theory approach was used to interview participants with a substance abuse problem who were hospitalized with a medical/surgical problem. Interviews were conducted using an interview guide; interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. In addition, a focus group of nurses who worked with this population met twice, once midway through the study, and before the final participant interview. The nurses commented on the fit of the developing model according to their experiences of working with the population described. Eighteen participants were interviewed for a total of 20 interviews (two participants were interviewed twice). All participants were polysubstance abusers and had a painful medical/surgical problem for which they were hospitalized. The Model of "Knowing How to Play the Game" was developed on the basis of participants' descriptions of their experiences and consisted of two core action categories "Feeling Respected/Not Respected" and " Strategizing to Get Pain Relief." Participants had many suggestions about nursing actions that were helpful or not helpful in assisting them to obtain pain relief. Nursing practice, education, research, and policy implications were discussed.