Treating Chronic Pain in the Shadow of Addiction

Balancing the treatment of chronic pain and the risks of developing or exacerbating an addictive disorder is a medical challenge.

At times, it is necessary to prescribe opioid analgesia in a chronic pain patient who is at risk of addiction, or with an active addictive disorder. After conducting a comprehensive assessment of the patient and the reported pain, a strategic stepwise therapeutic approach is needed for improving care and containing risk.

This monograph addresses these issues, as well as assists clinicians in identifying aberrant behaviors suggestive of substance abuse or addiction. Recommendations are provided for treating chronic pain patients who present with or develop a de novo addictive disorder.

Free PDF file available online for download at:
http://www.emergingsolutionsinpain.com/images/pdf/casestudyeval/ziegler/monograph.pdf

By: Penelope P. Ziegler, MD, FASAM; from Emerging Solutions in Pain, 2007.