title: Ethics and Undertreatment of Pain in Patients with a History of Drug Abuse.
abstract: Patients with substance abuse history make up 14% of inpatient admissions to acute care units, where it has been reported a great deal of patient pain is unrelieved (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration [SAMHSA], 2009. Definitions of substance abuse terms including tolerance, dependence, addiction, and pseudoaddiction are essential to a nurse's understanding of pain medication administration in patients with substance abuse history. Pain management is one of the nurse's main responsibilities, and using the principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice can guide the nurse to making appropriate pain management decisions for and with these patients. Nursing implications and resources for more information are discussed.
authors: Brooke Faria
authors: BF
authors: da Cunha
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000941:ethics* / Q000451:nursing*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000592:standards; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics