Opioid misuse and its predisposing factors in patients with pain

Abstract

To determine prevalence of opioid misuse and its predisposing factors in-patients with pain in the 10 clinics of Zahedan. Four hundred and eighty consecutive patients with complain of pain were included in a descriptive analytical cross-sectional study and asked by uniform questionnaire about opioid misuse and its 18 suspicious associated factors between January 1999 and May 1999. The data were analyzed by standard procedures including Chi square, T test, confidence interval, odds ratio, and multivariate and logistic regression analysis. Prevalence of opioid misuse was 28.5% inpatients presenting with pain. There was no significant relation between opioid misuse and chronic pain, but there were significant relationship between opioid misuse and the following five factors by logistic regression analysis, respectively: 1. Previous opioid misuse by friends 2. Type of ccupation 3. Cigarette smoking 4. Neuro-psychiatric consultation 5. Death of spouse. There is high prevalence of opioid misuse in-patients who complain of pain in Zahedan. It is recommended to educate associated factors of opioid misuse to the society and to who are responsible to promote health, and support high-risk groups.