Recent advances in the treatment of chronic pain and substance use disorders

Among people with substance use disorders (SUDs), chronic pain is among the most common comorbid chronic health conditions. Chronic pain increases risk for poor SUD treatment outcomes, including risk for overdose. Given rising overdose rates across North America, a renewed research focus has emerged to better understand the contribution and treatment of chronic pain in the context of an SUD. A significant portion of this research has focused on behavioral interventions given their safety and efficacy in treating both conditions separately. Therefore, this article will describe the recent advances in the treatment of chronic pain and SUD, including promising care delivery models and behavioral treatments. Areas for further study will also be reviewed.