Challenges in using opioids to treat pain in persons with substance use disorders.
Pain and substance abuse co-occur frequently, and each can make the other more difficult to treat. A knowledge of pain and its interrelationships with addiction enhances the addiction specialist's efficacy with many patients, both in the substance abuse setting and in collaboration with pain specialists. This article discusses the neurobiology and clinical presentation of pain and its synergies with substance use disorders, presents methodical approaches to the evaluation and treatment of pain that co-occurs with substance use disorders, and provides practical guidelines for the use of opioids to treat pain in individuals with histories of addiction. The authors consider that every pain complaint deserves careful investigation and every patient in pain has a right to effective treatment.
Savage
Seddon R
SR
Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA. seddon.r.savage@dartmouth.edu
Kirsh
Kenneth L
KL
Passik
Steven D
SD
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D009042:Motivation; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011320:Primary Health Care; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid