Uncontrolled pain during opioid addiction treatment is strongly linked to treatment failure, according to a Virginia Tech study of 602 people. Researchers found that pain experienced during treatment and long-term recovery is a significant predictor of continued opioid misuse, yet it is rarely considered during treatment planning.
The study, published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, examined pain-related outcomes in 602 patients, about two-thirds men with an average age of 40. Researchers integrated data from three previous opioid use disorder treatment studies investigating buprenorphine, a drug commonly used to help patients move away from addiction. Lead author Allison Tegge noted that “there is almost no research on how pain changes and impacts the treatment of opioid use disorder,” highlighting a significant gap in clinical knowledge.
Researchers found surprising patterns: while many patients experienced sustained pain reduction during treatment, moderate to severe pain was associated with lower rates of opioid abstinence despite increased distress. Patients with greater pain severity experienced significantly more depression, more severe withdrawal symptoms, increased opioid craving, and poorer quality of life. However, pain was not connected to patients dropping out of treatment programs.
The research raises important questions about causality. Investigators don’t yet know whether patients are misusing opioids because they are in pain or if opioids themselves impact pain perceptions. Tegge emphasized the importance of a personalized approach: “part of that is listening to patients and recognizing the nuances of their experiences during the treatment journey. At the very least, that means monitoring and addressing pain levels with alternative interventions to target pain. Reducing pain might actually improve opioid treatment outcomes.”
The study was funded by Indivior Inc., a pharmaceutical company developing treatments for opioid use disorder and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2025/10/research_fralinbiomed_teggepain.html