Testing a screening tool for substance use risk in chronic pain patients on opioids

Researchers are working to create a Swedish-language screening tool that helps doctors identify patients at risk for developing substance use problems while taking opioids for chronic pain. The study will translate and validate this screening tool by comparing it with another assessment tool in patients with long-term pain—some who are taking opioids and some who are not. The research will also collect blood samples for future studies about how the brain responds to long-term opioid treatment.

Currently, there is no validated screening tool available in Swedish to help doctors detect early signs of substance use disorder in pain patients taking opioids. This study addresses that gap by creating and testing a reliable tool that Swedish doctors can use in clinical practice.