Does report of craving opioid medication predict aberrant drug behavior among chronic pain patients?
Objective: To examine the relationship between the self-report of craving prescription medication and subsequent opioid misuse among chronic pain patients prescribed opioids for pain. Methods: Six hundred thirteen patients taking opioid medication for chronic noncancer pain were asked how often they have felt a craving for their medication on a scale from 0 – never to 4- very often. All participants completed a Series Of baseline questionnaires. After 0 months the participants were administered it structured prescription drug use interview (Prescription Drug Use Questionnaire), and submitted a urine sample for toxicology assessment. Their treating physicians also completed a substance misuse behavior checklist (Prescription Opioid Therapy Questionnaire). Results: Three hundred thirty-seven participants (55.0%) reported that they never felt a craving for their medication, whereas 276 (45.0%) reported sonic degree of craving their medication (seldom to very often).
