Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40581686›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2025

Association between pain medication misuse, psychological distress, and opioid use disorder among adults with lifetime cancer diagnosis in the United States.

Derrick Nyantakyi Owusu, Bill Brooks, Manik Ahuja, Kate Goodin, Emmanuel Angmorteh Mensah

Abstract read
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Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Derrick Nyantakyi OwusuBiostatistics and Epidemiology Department, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA. owusudn@etsu.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7831-1392
Bill BrooksBiostatistics and Epidemiology Department, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA.
Manik AhujaHealth Services Management and Policy, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA.
Kate GoodinBiostatistics and Epidemiology Department, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA.
Emmanuel Angmorteh MensahBiostatistics and Epidemiology Department, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeOpioid use disorder (OUD) is a critical public health concern in the United States, further complicated in cancer patients who often require opioids for pain management. This study aims to identify predictors of OUD among adults with lifetime cancer in the United States.

methodsA cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). A total of 1,948 cancer respondents were included. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to examine the association between OUD and predictors such as pain medication misuse, psychological distress, and SUD history, while adjusting for socio-demographic factors.

resultsThe prevalence of OUD among cancer patients was 3.0%, with 9% reporting pain medication misuse. Respondents who misused pain medications were 11.3 times more likely to have an OUD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 11.3, 95% CI: 4.07-31.3). High to very high psychological distress was associated with a significant increase in odds of OUD compared to low or no distress, [aOR] 10.8 (95% CI: 1.89-61.6). No significant association was observed between a history of SUD treatment and OUD.

conclusionCancer patients remain at considerable risk for OUD, driven by pain medication misuse and psychological distress. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive strategies integrating opioid management, mental health support, and early identification of at-risk individuals. A multidisciplinary approach is essential to mitigate the dual challenges of effective cancer pain management and the prevention of OUD.

Indexed as

Analgesics, OpioidCancer PainNeoplasmsOpioid-Related DisordersPrescription Drug MisusePsychological DistressAdolescentAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansLogistic ModelsMaleMiddle AgedPain ManagementAnalgesics, OpioidCancerOpioid Use Disorder (OUD)Psychological Distress

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.