Volume 31, Issue 3 e13582

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

‘They say you can get addicted’: Exploring factors that fuel the fear of addiction to prescription opioids among cancer survivors

Melody N. Chavez,

Corresponding Author

Melody N. Chavez

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0002-8707-7072

College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

Correspondence

Melody N. Chavez, Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, MDC56, Tampa, FL 33612-3805, USA.

Email: [email protected]

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Dinorah Martinez Tyson,

Dinorah Martinez Tyson

College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Paige W. Lake,

Paige W. Lake

College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Ana Gutierrez,

Ana Gutierrez

College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Peggie Sherry,

Peggie Sherry

Faces of Courage, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Khary K. Rigg,

Khary K. Rigg

Department of Mental Health Law and Policy, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Victoria Marshall,

Victoria Marshall

College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Heather Henderson,

Heather Henderson

Department of Anthropology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Sahana Rajasekhara,

Sahana Rajasekhara

Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Smitha Pabbathi,

Smitha Pabbathi

Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Barbara Lubrano,

Barbara Lubrano

Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Melody N. Chavez,

Corresponding Author

Melody N. Chavez

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0002-8707-7072

College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

Correspondence

Melody N. Chavez, Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, MDC56, Tampa, FL 33612-3805, USA.

Email: [email protected]

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Dinorah Martinez Tyson,

Dinorah Martinez Tyson

College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Paige W. Lake,

Paige W. Lake

College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Ana Gutierrez,

Ana Gutierrez

College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Peggie Sherry,

Peggie Sherry

Faces of Courage, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Khary K. Rigg,

Khary K. Rigg

Department of Mental Health Law and Policy, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Victoria Marshall,

Victoria Marshall

College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Heather Henderson,

Heather Henderson

Department of Anthropology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Sahana Rajasekhara,

Sahana Rajasekhara

Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Smitha Pabbathi,

Smitha Pabbathi

Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA

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Barbara Lubrano,

Barbara Lubrano

Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA

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First published: 30 March 2022

https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.13582

Citations: 4

Funding information: National Institutes of Health, Grant/Award Number: 3P30 CA076292-19

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Abstract

Objectives

To explore misconceptions regarding addiction potential of prescription opioids among cancer survivors.

Methods

A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of cancer survivors (N = 25) treated with prescription opioids for pain management. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and coded using Atlas.ti version 8. Inductive applied thematic analysis techniques were employed to identify emergent themes.

Results

The majority of participants were breast cancer survivors (88%) who underwent a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation (72%). Thematic analysis revealed that (1) cancer survivors view opioids as an illicit drug, (2) media narrative of the opioid epidemic increased negative perception of opioid use for cancer-related pain, (3) perceptions of opioids were also informed by experiences of friends and family with an opioid use disorder, (4) poor understanding of terminology resulted in misconceptions of opioid use and addiction and (5) fear of opioid addiction resulted in unrelieved cancer pain and poor quality of life.

Conclusion

Our findings support previously identified concerns among cancer patients about fear of addiction to opioids, a barrier to effective pain management. It highlights the importance for health care providers caring for cancer survivors to continue to address misconceptions about prescribed opioids.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors have no funding conflicts of interest to disclose.

Open Research

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

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‘They say you can get addicted’: Exploring factors that fuel the fear of addiction to prescription opioids among cancer survivors

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Open Research

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

REFERENCES

Citing Literature

References

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‘They say you can get addicted’: Exploring factors that fuel the fear of addiction to prescription opioids among cancer survivors

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Open Research

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

REFERENCES

Citing Literature

References

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