Medication misuse, abuse and dependence in chronic pain patients.

We report the prevalence of drug use, misuse, abuse, and dependence in 125 chronic pain patients attending specialist pain clinics in South London. A total of 110 patients (88%) were taking medications for their pain problem. Opioid analgesics (69.6%), nonopioids (48%), antidepressants (25%), and benzodiazepines (17.6%) were the drugs most frequently used. Psychoactive substance abuse or dependence (DSM-III-R) was diagnosed in 12%. A total of 9.6% of the patients met the DSM-III-R criteria for substance abuse or dependence in remission. Data are also presented on the misuse and abuse of nonpsychoactive drugs, qualitative information on how patients use drugs, and the information they have received about medication.