Pain and opioid dependence: Is it a matter of concern

Meera, A

Pain and opioid dependence: Is it a matter of concern

Meera, A

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 2011, 17 (4 SUPPL.)
Issue Date:: 2011-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Meera, A https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6756-6119	en_US
dc.date.issued	2011-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 2011, 17 (4 SUPPL.)	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0973-1075	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/114888
dc.description.abstract	Opioids are extremely effective in managing cancer pain, and now are utilized for longer periods of time in cancer patients as the treatment for malignancies has become more successful. [1] The goals in cancer pain treatment includes maintaining function in patients with cancer pain (especially in earlier stage disease), and palliation in advanced disease. [1] The perception of the lay public and inexperienced clinicians that addiction is inevitable, often leads to an inappropriate fear to utilize opioids to appropriately manage pain; resulting in persistent under-treatment of cancer pain internationally. [2,3] There is much confusion about the phenomenon of physical dependence and how this can be differentiated from the maladaptive behaviors that constitute a diagnosis of substance abuse. The burden of cancer and associated cancer pain is projected to continue to rise, and is often at an advanced stage at diagnosis in less developed countries. [4] To be able to provide quality care for this patient population availability of opioids and skilled clinicians in pain management is paramount. In the majority of cases, the main concern is to abate concerns about risks of opioid addiction; to allow adequate pain relief. To understand the infrequent phenomenon of substance abuse in the setting of cancer pain management clear definitions are needed, and review of the epidemiology of occurrence in cancer populations is needed. It is also important to clearly separate the issues of substance abuse at the patient level and diversion of prescribed opioids. There are principles of managing cancer pain in the rare clinical scenario when the risk of substance abuse is high, which can still allow safe management of cancer pain with opioids.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Indian Journal of Palliative Care	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.4103/0973-1075.76240	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	en_US
dc.title	Pain and opioid dependence: Is it a matter of concern	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	4 SUPPL.	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	17	en_US
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/IMPACCT
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	4 SUPPL.	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	17	en_US

Abstract:

Opioids are extremely effective in managing cancer pain, and now are utilized for longer periods of time in cancer patients as the treatment for malignancies has become more successful. [1] The goals in cancer pain treatment includes maintaining function in patients with cancer pain (especially in earlier stage disease), and palliation in advanced disease. [1] The perception of the lay public and inexperienced clinicians that addiction is inevitable, often leads to an inappropriate fear to utilize opioids to appropriately manage pain; resulting in persistent under-treatment of cancer pain internationally. [2,3] There is much confusion about the phenomenon of physical dependence and how this can be differentiated from the maladaptive behaviors that constitute a diagnosis of substance abuse. The burden of cancer and associated cancer pain is projected to continue to rise, and is often at an advanced stage at diagnosis in less developed countries. [4] To be able to provide quality care for this patient population availability of opioids and skilled clinicians in pain management is paramount. In the majority of cases, the main concern is to abate concerns about risks of opioid addiction; to allow adequate pain relief. To understand the infrequent phenomenon of substance abuse in the setting of cancer pain management clear definitions are needed, and review of the epidemiology of occurrence in cancer populations is needed. It is also important to clearly separate the issues of substance abuse at the patient level and diversion of prescribed opioids. There are principles of managing cancer pain in the rare clinical scenario when the risk of substance abuse is high, which can still allow safe management of cancer pain with opioids.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/114888