Substance Use and Anxiety About Pain Among Patients Seeking Abortion Services

TL;DR

This study explores how recent use of opioids, marijuana, and cannabidiol affects anxiety about pain in patients seeking abortion services.

Contribution

The study identifies a potential link between recent opioid use and increased anxiety about pain during and after abortion procedures.

Findings

Recent opioid users reported higher anxiety scores for pain during abortion compared to non-users.

Recent opioid users had significantly higher anxiety scores for pain after abortion compared to non-users.

Marijuana and cannabidiol use did not significantly affect anxiety scores compared to non-users.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate how recent opioid, marijuana, and cannabidiol use affects pre-procedure pain-related anxiety for patients seeking abortion.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional anonymous survey of patients seeking abortion assessing recent substance use and anxiety about pain during and after abortion. We compared substance users' and non-users' anxiety scores.

Results: Among 217 participants, recent opioid users (5.3%) had higher median anxiety scores for pain during (7.0 vs 6.0; p=0.33) and after (8.0 vs 6.0; p=0.01) abortion than non-opioid users. Anxiety scores were similar for marijuana and cannabidiol users.

Conclusions: Assessing recent opioid use may help guide counseling for anxiety about abortion.

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