title: Failure to identify or effectively manage prescription opioid dependence acted as a gateway to heroin use-buprenorphine/naloxone treatment and recovery in a surgical patient.
abstract: The prescribing of opioid pain medication has increased markedly in recent years, with strong opioid dispensing increasing 18-fold in Tayside, Scotland since 1995. Despite this, little data is available to quantify the problem of opioid pain medication dependence (OPD) and until recently there was little guidance on best-practice treatment. We report the case of a young mother prescribed dihydrocodeine for postoperative pain relief who became opioid dependent. When her prescription was stopped without support, she briefly used heroin to overcome her withdrawal. After re-exposure to dihydrocodeine following surgery 9 years later and treatment with methadone for dependency, she was transferred to buprenorphine/naloxone. In our clinical experience and in agreement with Department of Health and Royal College of General Practitioner guidance, buprenorphine/naloxone is the preferred opioid substitution treatment for OPD. Our patient remains within her treatment programme and has returned to work on buprenorphine 16 mg/naloxone 4 mg in conjunction with social and psychological support.
authors.affiliation: Lanarkshire Alcohol and Drug Service, Coatbridge, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Conroy
authors.affiliation: NHS Lanarkshire, Motherwell, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003061:Codeine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D003932:Heroin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009270:Naloxone; D002047:Buprenorphine; D003932:Heroin; C014481:dihydrocodeine; D008691:Methadone; D003061:Codeine