“A report published in The Journal of Pain, the official journal of the American Pain Society, concluded that the history of substance abuse can predict the misuse of therapeutic opioids. For the study, researchers from the Cleveland Clinic, a non-profit academic medical center, observed 199 patients treated for chronic non-cancer pain. Their goal: Find out if there’s any kind of linkage between non-opioid substance abuse disorders, opioid dosage and therapeutic opioid abuse.
Researchers found that 25% of patients with no known history of a substance use disorder had therapeutic opioid abuse. In patients with a known history of substance abuse disorders, 83% had therapeutic opioid abuse. The study also revealed that patients with substance use disorders are more likely to receive opioids in higher dosages.”
Source: Forbes.com – February 25, 2015