Pain Formulary PrintPrint23AugPRESSFINAL _2017

3.3 Opioids for Complex or Persistent Pain
opioids stopped. This is not the same as addiction. Up to
12% of long-term opioid users in primary and secondary
care meet the criteria for an opioid use disorder.
The terms ‘addiction’ and ‘dependence’ are often used
interchangeably. Consider addiction to opioids if:
• Continued opioid use becomes main priority for patient.
• Continued desire to use opioids despite demonstrable
physical, emotional, social harms.
• Patient describes a craving for drugs.
• Patient describes a lack of control over use of drug.
Risk of addiction increases in patients who:
• Have co-morbid mental health diagnoses including
anxiety and depression.
• Have current or past history of substance misuse.
• Use multiple opioid preparations.
• Are co-prescribed other psychoactive drugs eg.
benzodiazepines.
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