Introduction

This patient summary on substance abuse issues in cancer is adapted from the summary written for health professionals by cancer experts. This and other credible information about cancer treatment, screening, prevention, supportive care, and ongoing clinical trials, is available from the National Cancer Institute. Substance abuse rarely develops in people who have cancer who do not have a history of drug or alcohol abuse. This brief summary describes substance abuse issues in patients with cancer who have a history of substance abuse, and addresses the use of opioid drugs to control cancer pain.

This summary is about substance abuse issues in adults with cancer.