Can Opioids and Substance Abuse Disorder Coexist?

Controlling chronic noncancer pain in a patient who has a substance use disorder is a complex and challenging task. But with tools such as empathetic communication, urine drug testing and coprescribing potentially lifesaving naloxone, health care teams can treat patients with these concurrent conditions safely and effectively—even with opioids, according to several leading pharmacists with expertise in pain management.

Taking on these difficult cases is even a welcome challenge for some