Prevalence of tramadol misuse: A pilot multicentre cross-sectional survey in Singapore

Abstract

In Singapore, especially in our healthcare institution, the use of strong opioids for the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain is relatively rare.1 Contrastingly, weak opioids such as tramadol are frequently prescribed for this condition, partly stemming from the widespread belief that tramadol has a better safety profile with a lower addiction risk than strong opioids.2 However, there appears to be a change in this opinion recently.3 In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of tramadol misuse in our healthcare institution, and to identify the associated risk factors.