opioid use, which includes both prescribed and non-prescribed drugs, is relatively common amongst marginalized populations. Past research has shown that among those who use non-prescribed or diverted
opioids recreationally, many were first exposed to the drug as prescribed
pain medication. Objective: to better understand the relationship between
pain and
opioid use in tenants of precarious housing. Methods: in the present study, 440 individuals from a cohort living in homeless or precariously housed conditions in a neighborhood with high rates of poverty and drug use were interviewed for their bodily
pain and
opioid use. We examined the relationship between bodily
pain levels, assessed using the Maudsley Addiction Profile questionnaire, and prescribed, non-prescribed and combined self-reported
opioid use in the prior 28 days assessed using the Timeline Followback and Doctor-Prescribed Medication Timeline Followback questionnaires. Results: Analysis of the results indicated that sex (female), age (younger) and early exposure to
opioids (≤ age 18) predicted current
opioid use, but there was no association between current bodily
pain levels and
opioid use. Conclusions: these unexpected findings indicate the complex nature of the relationship between
pain and
opioid use in this population.