Many studies have shown that people misusing medications, whether they are prescribed to them or not, are attempting to alleviate chronic pain issues. A new study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, confirms this once again.
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center screened 25,000 patients in primary care for misuse of prescription medications and illegal drug use. Out of those who screen positive, 589 were asked to answer questions about substance misuse and chronic pain. Eighty-seven percent who screen positive admitted to suffering from chronic pain, and half of them rated their pain severe. Half of those that tested positive for illegal drugs such as heroin or marijuana also claimed they were doing so to alleviate physical pain.
Additionally, there are many that were misusing medications that were never prescribed to them. Specifically, 80 percent of those using drugs without a prescription were actually misusing the medication, which can be very dangerous and life-threatening.
Drug users with chronic pain must have their pain treated properly while recovering from their addictions.