Pain Management in the Older Adult with Opioid Use Disorder.

Increasing prevalence of addiction poses challenges to pain management in older adults, a population already facing high rates of chronic pain and medical and psychosocial complexity. Little guidance exists on the management of pain in older adults with opioid misuse and opioid use disorder, in whom heightened pain sensitivity, comorbid mental health disorders, and potential harms from prescribed analgesic medications complicate treatment. This article will explore diagnostic and treatment strategies for older adults with opioid misuse and opioid use disorder, with special attention to the use of buprenorphine and methadone for comorbid pain and addiction.