[Opium abuse among patients with chronic physical pain as a misleading cause in addiction treatment center]

ABSTRACT

Chronic non-cancer pain has been considered as causes of Opium addiction in human beings. The knowledge of its incidence as an initial reason for Opium consumption among Opium addict people may affect a] addiction prevention plans, b] addiction treatment programmes and even 3] educational goals for training medical students. Therefore, this study aimed to determine this incidence among Opium addict people referred to an addiction treatment center. This is a cross sectional study which was performed in Ahwaz during 2006-2008.First, a pilot study was carried out in which the study sample size was calculated. Participants were evaluated by physical examination, pain scaling via VAS, physical examination and psychological interview based on DSM4 criteria and SCL90 questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed by descriptive analysis of SPSS and X square test. Finally, 21 patients out of 224 participants were found to suffer from a type of chronic physical pain before Opium addiction. Psychological abnormalities were more frequent in pain suffered patients [p<0.007]. There were some people who seek for getting rid of physical pain. But, they were deviating to a street drug abuse status. This issue should be considered in prevention and treatment of addiction