HIMPower Magazine HimPower November 2017 | Page 28

COMMENTARY
The Link Between Opioid
Misuse and Depression
by Dr. Germaine B. Hawkins
CHRONIC OPIOID USE & DEPRESSION
Opioid misuse in self-medicating
depression is a growing concern. Even
more concerning is the fact that many of
these individuals have no history of prior
substance abuse. Recent research suggests
that depression appears to be a risk factor.
As a psychiatrist with years of experience
treating depression, over the last decade
alone, I can attest that it is extremely rare
to see a chronic pain patient who is not
depressed or at least doesn’t report symp-
28  HimPower November 2017
toms that strongly suggest they are. This
points to two types of opioid misusers -
those who while having a history of depres-
sion were at some point given a prescription
for an opiate such as hydrocodone for a
new pain complaint, be it acute or chronic
in presentation (i.e. motor vehicle accident,
post-surgery, a toothache or multiple scle-
rosis respectively) and those individuals who
became depressed while suffering through
their pre-existing chronic pain. Nonetheless
both groups at some point found some relief