AIMS:
To explore
the relationship between chronic pain and characteristics, behaviors, and
psychological status of suburban Connecticut injection drug users.
METHODS:
Cross-sectional
study with quantitative interview and serological testing for HIV and hepatitis
B and C in 456 individuals who injected drugs in the past month. Participants
were dichotomized into those reporting current chronic pain of at least six
months duration and all others. The interview covered
- sociodemographics,
- injection drug use,
- interactions with drug treatment, criminal
justice, and harm reduction,
- screening for alcohol use, chronic pain,
anxiety, and depression, and
- knowledge regarding HIV, hepatitis B (HBV) and
C (HCV), and opioid overdose.
Serological testing for HIV, HBV, and HCV was
conducted.
RESULTS:
One-third
(n = 143) reported chronic pain. These individuals differed significantly from
those not reporting chronic pain on characteristics that included older age,
lower educational achievement, and injection of pharmaceutical opioids. They
also reported experiencing more psychological and family problems on the ASI
and higher levels of depression and anxiety. Four of five individuals with
chronic pain (n = 117) reported non-medical opioid use prior to the onset of
chronic pain.
CONCLUSIONS:
Chronic
pain is common among drug injectors in our study population although it was
unusual for chronic pain to have preceded non-medical opioid use. Psychological
problems in injectors with co-occurring chronic pain are likely pose
significant complications to successful treatment for substance abuse, pain, or
infectious disease treatment.
1Center for
Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS and the Department of Epidemiology of
Microbial Disease, Yale University School of Public Health, 60 College Street,
New Haven, CT 06520, United States. Electronic address: robert.heimer@yale.edu.
2Center for
Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS and the Department of Epidemiology of
Microbial Disease, Yale University School of Public Health, 60 College Street,
New Haven, CT 06520, United States.
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