Risk Factors of Boscarino et al for Drug Dependency in an Outpatient with Noncancer Pain Treated with Opioids

Patient selection: noncancer pain treated with opioids

Risk factors for drug dependency:

(1) age < 65 years

(2) depression

(3) therapy with psychotropic medications (anxiolytics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, stimulants, antipsychotic agents)

(4) pain interferes with life or work

(5) history of severe dependency (by the Addiction Severity Index)

(6) history of opioid abuse

If all of these factors are present then the odds ratio for opioid dependence is 56.

A patient with opioid dependence also tends to have a high number of opioid prescriptions.