Opioid use in patients presenting with pain in Zahedan, Islamic Republic of Iran.

To study the prevalence and factors associated with opioid use in pain, 480 consecutive patients with a chief complaint of pain were interviewed at 10 clinics in Zahedan. The data were analysed in relation to 18 possible associated factors. The prevalence of opioid use was 28.5% in patients presenting with pain. There was no significant relation between opioid use and chronic pain (> or = 6 months), but there was a relationship with the following 5 factors: previous opioid use by friends (72.9% versus 20.4% without friends using), occupation (58.5% private sector employees/self-employed versus 17.4% housewives), cigarette smoking (60.8% versus 21.8% not smoking), consultation for a psychological problem (38.3% versus 23.3% without), and death of a spouse (60.0% versus 26.1% without).