title: Drug dependence and abuse potential of tramadol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the drug dependence and abuse liability of tramadol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects of opiate addicts with history of tramadol abuse were 219. Physical dependence of tramadol was assessed using opiate withdrawal scale (OWS), psychic dependence was assessed by association test of Addiction Research Center Inventory-Chinese Version (ARCI-CV); the degrees of craving experienced for tramadol was self-reported on visual analogue scale (VAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The scores of OWS of tramadol were 0.05-1.07; 3 scores on scales in particular being used the identify euphoric effects--MBG, sedative effects--PCAG, and psychotomimetic effects--LSD of ARCI were 7.3, 6.1, and 3.4, respectively (F = 38.1, P < 0.01); 57.1% of tramadol abuse subjects had craving for tramadol (chi 2 = 75.86, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tramadol produced high abuse potential among opiate addicts.
authors.affiliation: National Institute on Drug Dependence, Beijing, China. zhiminliu@nidd.ac.cn
authors.forename: Z M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: J Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Z J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014147:Tramadol / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014147:Tramadol