title: Drug abuse and dependency in patients with chronic pain.
abstract: Of 144 patients with chronic pain of nonmalignant cause, 35 (24%) were drug-dependent, 59 (41%) drug abusers, and 50 (35%) nonabusers. Codeine and oxycodone (Percodan) were most frequently abused. In regard to characteristics tested, differences between the groups were not great; but there was a significant difference in outcome between nonabuse and dependent groups. Early detection and treatment of drug abuse should minimize some of the difficulties involved in management of treatment-resistive patients with chronic pain.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003061:Codeine; D011431:Dextropropoxyphene; D003975:Diazepam; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D008614:Meperidine; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D010098:Oxycodone; D010146:Pain; D010423:Pentazocine; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D008614:Meperidine; D010098:Oxycodone; D003975:Diazepam; D010423:Pentazocine; D011431:Dextropropoxyphene; D003061:Codeine