Pain management in the addicted patient: Practical considerations

Pain management in the addicted patient is always a challenge, whether the patient has cancer, human immunodeficiency virus, or chronic nonmalignant p ain. The purpose of this article is to clarify terminology, discuss assessm ent of addicted patients with pain, dispel myths and misconceptions, and ad dress specific issues surrounding pain management in the addicted patient. Treatment issues specific to patients in recovery, active substance users, and patients on methadone will be discussed.