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The Impact of Chronic Pain on Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Outcomes

  • Opioids (A Konova and S Yip, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Chronic pain among individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD) receiving opioid agonist treatment (OAT) is common. We review extant literature on the impact of chronic pain on OAT outcomes (i.e., illicit opioid use and OAT retention).

Recent Findings

We found 13 manuscripts using 9 datasets. The relationship between chronic pain and OAT outcomes is mixed. Most studies reported no relationship between chronic pain and illicit opioid use, but definitions of chronic pain were inconsistent. There was some evidence that chronic pain is associated with higher likelihood of drug use, and associations with retention were rarely reported.

Summary

OAT clinics should thoughtfully assess pain at intake and regularly assess pain intensity and interference. Repeated assessments during daily life offer some advantages, and there is a need for nonpharmacologic pain treatments that complement OAT clinical care. These may require additional resources for OAT clinics to effectively address pain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. VA Connecticut Healthcare Center System, 950 Campbell Ave 116B, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA

    R. Ross MacLean, Suzanne Spinola, Gabriella Garcia-Vassallo & Mehmet Sofuoglu

  2. Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    R. Ross MacLean, Suzanne Spinola, Gabriella Garcia-Vassallo & Mehmet Sofuoglu

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  1. R. Ross MacLean
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  2. Suzanne Spinola
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  3. Gabriella Garcia-Vassallo
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  4. Mehmet Sofuoglu
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Correspondence to R. Ross MacLean.

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Dr. MacLean has been supported by the Department of VA New England Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) and VA Connecticut Healthcare System. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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MacLean, R.R., Spinola, S., Garcia-Vassallo, G. et al. The Impact of Chronic Pain on Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Outcomes. Curr Addict Rep 8, 100–108 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-020-00352-6

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