Chronic pain management among people who use drugs: A health policy challenge in the context of the opioid crisis

• Published in: The International journal of drug policy Vol. 71; pp. 150 - 156
• Main Authors: Dassieu, Lise, Kaboré, Jean-Luc, Choinière, Manon, Arruda, Nelson, Roy, Élise
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2019; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Addictions; Adult; Amphetamines; Analgesics, Opioid - administration & dosage; Cancer; Chronic non-cancer pain; Chronic pain; Chronic Pain - drug therapy; Cocaine; Crises; Drug overdose; Drug Overdose - prevention & control; Drug policy; Drug use; Drug Users - statistics & numerical data; Drugs; Female; Health authorities; Health care policy; Health inequalities; Health Policy; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Inappropriateness; Interviews as Topic; Male; Management; Methadone; Middle Aged; Multiple drugs; Narcotics; Opioid Epidemic; Opioid-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Opioids; Overdoses; Pain management; Patient Satisfaction; Prescribing; Prescription drugs; Public health; Qualitative methods; Qualitative research; Quebec - epidemiology; Social problems; Substance abuse; Substance use; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Suffering; Quebec; Canada; Substance use; Qualitative methods; Chronic non-cancer pain; Opioids; Pain management; Health inequalities

In Canada, the rise in prescription opioid (PO) overdoses and addiction is a major public health concern. Various health authorities have recently recommended that physicians use caution when prescribing opioids, especially to people with histories of substance use. As a result, fewer therapeutic op...