A pilot study into the problematic use of opioid analgesics in chronic non-cancer pain patients

Controversy surrounds the use of strong opioid analgesic drugs for chronic non-cancer pain. Specialists have concluded that fears of problematic drug use are often unfounded. In contrast, others claim the existence of significant problems. 'Problematic drug use' includes the following definitions; addiction, abuse, physiological dependence and tolerance. We present a case study and the results of a pilot, longitudinal, cohort study, via a pilot questionnaire, of 22 chronic pain clinic patients following a trial of opioid drugs. The results suggest that chronic non-cancer pain patients can be maintained on opioids with few problems, and likewise can withdraw with minimal adverse effects, other than a return of pain. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.